{"id":489648,"date":"2023-11-15T11:02:11","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T11:02:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=489648"},"modified":"2023-11-15T11:02:11","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T11:02:11","slug":"council-demands-action-from-bouygues-after-balcony-collapses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/health-and-safety\/council-demands-action-from-bouygues-after-balcony-collapses-15-11-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Council demands action from Bouygues after balcony collapses"},"content":{"rendered":"

A London politician has demanded a fast response from Bouygues after part of a balcony collapsed within a housing development built by the contractor.<\/p>\n

Barking and Dagenham Council leader Darren Rodwell wrote to the French-owned contractor\u2019s management urging inspections be carried out \u201cat pace\u201d.<\/p>\n

The local authority said part of a balcony facade at Weaver\u2019s Quarter in east London collapsed on Saturday (11 November) in a \u201chorrifying experience\u201d for residents.<\/p>\n

Bouygues delivered the homes on the former Gascoigne Estate in Barking for L&Q, which was acting as development agent and subsequently sold the homes in this phase to the council, which now owns them through its housing company Reside.<\/p>\n

Rodwell wrote in his letter to Bouygues: \u201cIn September, L&Q served a defect notice on Bouygues about the soundness of the balcony facades.<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand that Bouygues has accepted this notice, but not yet liability for the work. I understand Bouygues has already completed repairs to some balconies on the estate.<\/p>\n

\u201cI expect all remaining inspections to be carried out at pace so that work can be completed to make good the remaining balconies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although no one was hurt by the balcony collapse, the council said in a statement that it posed \u201ca risk to people who may be passing by\u201d.<\/p>\n

It added: \u201cReside is arranging works to reduce the risk until we have clear assurance that all balconies on the estate are safe.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are currently in discussions with Bouygues to impress on it the need to take urgent action on the concerns raised. We will continue to work with Bouygues, L&Q and Reside to address any ongoing resident concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n

Resident Matt Lismore published on social media<\/a> an email he sent to Rodwell in May 2022 raising \u201cconcern about the management and build quality\u201d of Weaver\u2019s Quarter. \u201cNo action was taken,\u201d claimed Lismore.<\/p>\n

Bouygues UK said in a statement: \u201cFollowing the incident at Weaver\u2019s Quarter Estate, where some soffit boards detached and fell from a balcony, our main concern has been ensuring residents\u2019 safety.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are working hard with Reside to take immediate action, put the necessary safety measures in place and undertake appropriate remediation works.\u201d<\/p>\n

L&Q declined to comment.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Debris after part of a balcony broke off on the Weaver’s Quarter estate in Barking. Source: Matt Lismore<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A London politician has demanded a fast response from Bouygues after part of a balcony collapsed within a housing development built by the contractor. Barking and Dagenham Council leader Darren Rodwell wrote to the French-owned contractor\u2019s management urging inspections be carried out \u201cat pace\u201d. The local authority said part of a balcony facade at Weaver\u2019s …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":87938,"featured_media":489662,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[530,581],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n