More buildings hit by Scottish school collapse defects

Grant Prior 7 years ago
Share

Construction faults have been found at 19 more public buildings across Edinburgh in the wake of a wall collapse at Oxgangs Primary School in the city.

Extensive remedial work was needed at Oxgangs Primary School
Extensive remedial work was needed at Oxgangs Primary School

A report from watchdogs at the Accounts Commission confirms the scale of problems unearthed by investigatiors since the school wall failure.

Nine tonnes of masonry came crashing down in 2016 at Oxgangs due to missing wall header ties.

Seventeen schools were closed following the incident.

Now it has emerged that further problems have been found at schools, libraries, community centres and care homes across the city.

The Accounts Commission report states: “At the end of January 2018, of the 154 properties where assessments had been completed, 19 properties had been identified as having issues similar to those identified at Oxgangs School.

“Remedial work to address the defects identified on these buildings (which include schools, libraries, community centres and care homes) is ongoing.”

The Commission is now calling on all councils to improve their checks on construction work.

It said: “The report emphasises the importance of all councils undertaking regular, comprehensive structural risk assessments and inspections on public buildings to ensure the safety of service users.

“Where a council employs a company to provide construction services, it’s vital that it puts in place appropriate checks and controls.”

Graham Sharp, Chair, Accounts Commission said: “While reduced resources mean councils must make difficult decisions about service provision, they should have an appropriate level of expertise to deliver and safely maintain buildings.

“People must have confidence in the safety and integrity of public buildings.”

Latest news

Costain margin heads for 4.5% after half-year profit rise

Roads and HS2 rephasing hit transport revenues but £5.6bn forward book to support growth
21 hours ago

Hinkley contractors face prosecution over rebar mesh fall

Bouygues and Laing O'Rourke face action brought by the Office for Nuclear Regulation
2 days ago

Farrans to build new £59m Paisley bridge

Work to start soon on transport project for Renfrewshire Council
1 day ago

Crown Estate hires Olympics village veteran to lead delivery push

John Nicholson to oversee £16bn portfolio’s major UK development pipeline.
20 hours ago

Henry Boot gets green light for 2,500 new homes

Hallam Land division sees signs planning system is speeding-up
21 hours ago

Wates inks £100m deal on first new-design prison houseblocks

HMP Onley expansion leads roll-out of new standardised design
2 days ago

£122m deal to unlock Newcastle’s last brownfield site

Land remediation funding paves way for 2,500-home Forth Yards neighbourhood
2 days ago

McLaren lands Heathrow logistics deal

1.6 hectare airport site to be transformed into modern warehouses
2 days ago

McAlpine veteran to lead T&T’s project management drive

Former Olympic Stadium lead Mike O’Donnell takes lead role with focus on major capital project delivery
2 days ago

IES snaps up Nexus Power out of administration

Utilities group strengthens expertise in 400kV jointing and offshore markets
2 days ago

Thames Water tenders £120m water main rehab deal

Company seeks 2–5 contractors for London and South East renewal works
2 days ago

Lower Thames Crossing to lead green planning reforms

New system to avoid another £100m HS2 bat tunnel
2 days ago

Mace lands latest 30-storey City of London tower

85 Gracechurch Street near Leadenhall Market to be transformed
3 days ago

Vinci gets go-ahead for £250m Stockport 8 scheme

Contractor to start first phase of 435 net zero homes next year
3 days ago

£80m bid race to convert Oxford Debenhams into labs

Crown Estate advance plan to convert former six storey department store
3 days ago

Bennett steps-in to finish Guinness Covent Garden brewery

Original fit-out contractor Beck Interiors fell into administration
3 days ago

Work-to-rule set to hit Sellafield clean-up

Action by 1,500 construction workers across 34 contractors
3 days ago

Aureos breaks ground on £45m Howden Relief Road

Yorkshire road will pave way for 2,000-home scheme
3 days ago

Oxford United win green light for £150m all-electric stadium

Planners back 16,000-seat Kidlington ground with hotel, plaza and community hub
6 days ago

Demolition record as eight cooling towers come down

Watch Brown & Mason set record at Cottam Power Station
6 days ago

Hitachi Energy named for EGL3 converter station deal

Firm to build major HVDC converter stations in Aberdeenshire and West Norfolk
6 days ago

PAS NW secures landmark £20m civils deal in Lancashire

Groundworks firm wins infrastructure for 429-home Wain Homes scheme
6 days ago

Subcontractors wanted for jobs across the South West

Register now for latest Constructionline event in Bristol
6 days ago

Profits double at Octavius as road and rail work grows

Recent acquisitions add to turnover growth at infrastructure specialist
7 days ago

Quarterly construction output growth masks orders slide

New orders down by over 8% driven by fall in infrastructure and offices
7 days ago

Vinci UK swings back into profit after group restructure

£166m cash injected to strengthen building and facilities operations balance sheets
1 week ago

Staged procurement to make comeback as pricing risk bites

Developers turn to staged deals to control costs on big-ticket commercial jobs
7 days ago

McGee profit halves as project start delays hit

Revenue up 24% but profits fall on higher carry costs
7 days ago

Vistry to deliver 2,300 homes at Rugeley power station site

139-acre brownfield site has already been extensively remediated
7 days ago

Andrew Scott wins role on Swansea’s next big office build

Contractor appointed for detailed design of 800-desk city centre hub.
7 days ago