THESE are the first spectacular pictures from Cwmbran’s iconic tower, which is being renovated.

Like it or loathe it, the 21- storey block of flats has been a landmark of the town since Cwmbran’s inception.

For years a dull grey, the block is now a gleaming white.

But the cosmetics of the building are just one small part of the £1 million renovation of the tower being carried out by Bron Afon.

As Duncan Forbes, Bron Afon’s chief executive explains: “This is a landmark building in South Wales that can be seen from miles around.

“We have replaced all the windows and carried out structural repairs to the concrete.

“External wall insulation (EWI) has been fitted and this, combined with other work, will protect the structural integrity of the block for 25 years. EWI will also reduce the amount of energy that residents use.

“We take fire safety extremely seriously so we have also fitted a sprinkler system.

“Fairview Court in Pontnewynydd was done last year, making Bron Afon the first in the UK to retro-fit sprinklers to a high-rise block.

“Retro-fit means you go back to a building that’s already built and do the work. This is above any requirements in the law but we felt while we were doing such a huge project it was right to do this fire-safety work.”

Work should be completed by the end of September.