The Pembrokes, the Brecons and the Denbighs Case Study

The Development | The Challenge | The Solution | The Result

The Result

Big though the job was, it was completed without a hitch, and in 2001 the Pembrokes, Brecons and Denbighs became the first council-run blocks in Leeds to have the benefits of an Integrated Reception. Since then the residents of all 282 flats in the six blocks have had the choice to access terrestrial TV, satellite TV, DAB and FM radio, and they can even choose to get Sky+ and Sky HD. What’s more, they have CCTV, so everyone can see who’s entering and leaving the front door of their block, giving security and peace of mind. The pictures are fed straight to a central control room in the centre of the city allowing immediate action to be taken in the event of an incident.

The system has now been replicated right across the 137 council-run blocks in Leeds, benefitting the residents of no fewer than 14,000 flats. The council’s chief electrical surveyor, Graham Kerridge, is delighted with the result: “There were absolutely no glitches, which is remarkable for such a big project covering the entire city. The tenants are thrilled too, because they’ve got such a reliable system, excellent reception and complete freedom over their choice of TV supplier. And we’re are all set for the digital changeover.”

Barbara Harrison and her husband, a postman, have lived in one of the two Denbigh blocks for several years. Many people living in her block have chosen to have Sky TV installed, and she joined them just before Christmas 2007. She is delighted with the result. “I was amazed at how smoothly the installation was,” she said. “They put the cable into the bedroom in no time, then I got my Sky box, and that was it. The installer from Tel-Aer explained how to work it, and it’s been really good. I used to have Freeview but that didn’t give me all the channels I wanted, and old dramas and films. I wanted Sky in my bedroom so that I could have company when my husband goes out to work. Now I’ve got exactly what I wanted, and I’m thrilled with it.”

With thousands of satisfied residents, the whole process has been a triumph for Leeds. It was the first city in the country to have IRS installed across all its council-run blocks, and other cities are now following its lead.