Council sues Camden tower block contractors

Aaron Morby 6 years ago
Share

Camden Council is taking High Court legal action to recover costs from contractors involved with the Chalcots Estate tower blocks upgrade.

After the Grenfell disaster, the council was forced to evacuate residents from the tower blocks and fix multiple fire safety failings, including cladding replacement.

The claim has been submitted against the PFI consortium Partners for Improvement in Camden – currently in liquidation – and Rydon Construction, Rydon Maintenance, Faithful + Gould Ltd. and United Living South.

The council is seeking to recover costs in relation to the evacuation of Chalcots residents in June 2017, the employment of fire marshals and security staff during the evacuation and beyond, its repairs to make good inadequate internal fire stopping, inadequate fire doors and other serious defects inside the Chalcots towers and the removal of combustible aluminium composite material cladding from the blocks’ outer façade.

While the claims are processed, a £90m programme of work with new principal contractor Wates to complete work on the Chalcots Estate will continue.

A Camden Council spokesman said: “We were let down by PFIC, Rydon and other contractors.

“The PFI agreement for refurbishment and maintenance of the Chalcots Estate was entered into in good faith and fundamental to this was our expectation that the Chalcots towers would be safe for our residents.

“We should not have been put in a position where we were left with no option but to evacuate residents from their homes on a Friday night.

“Our absolute priority is the safety of our residents so, upon discovering serious deficiencies in the work and materials used by our contractors, we stepped in with new contractors, to complete works that would allow Chalcots residents to start to return safely to their homes within four weeks and, within six months, had fully removed cladding from the towers.

“The costs of the supporting residents during the evacuation and level of work required at the Chalcots made a major impact on our reserves. Clearly, it would not be right for residents and, by extension, the public purse, to foot the bill for what has been a private contractor failure.

“In October 2018, we secured £80m from the Government to fund the replacement of cladding on the Chalcots Estate. However, this only covers part of the costs and still leaves us with substantial losses that we are determined to recover.

“Today’s claims are submitted following two years’ examination of historical agreements, contractual responsibilities and works completed during the period in which we had a contractual relationship with PFIC.

“Following this review, we are clear about where responsibility lies for the range of fire safety defects at the Chalcots which led to the evacuation and its associated costs.”

 

Latest news

Balfour Beatty terminates Danny Sullivan labour deals

Around 500 workers on HS2 will be moved to alternative agencies or be taken on direct
21 hours ago

Trio face prosecution after Hinkley site death

Main contractors and client to face charges over death of site supervisor
22 hours ago

Buyers see recovery in house building sector

But civil and commercial work still in the doldrums
1 day ago

Apprentice saws-off thumb on hotel refurb site

Court hears how digit was reattached and teenager continued training with another firm
1 day ago

Laing O’Rourke tops June contracts league

£919m animal super lab dominates new orders
2 days ago

TSL turnover smashes £500m as profit almost trebles

Data centre and logistics contractor rises high on surging demand
2 days ago

Gleeson Homes chief exec leaves business after restructure

Management revamp after "challenging" year
2 days ago

Green light for 1,600-home Oldham town centre overhaul

Plans for over 1,600 homes across six regeneration sites approved
2 days ago

DSM wins Norwich city centre clearance job

Anglia Square shopping centre clearance for £300m scheme
2 days ago

13-year-old becomes UK’s youngest qualified digger driver

Grandson of Gallagher Group chairman sets industry record
2 days ago

Cubby reborn in £12m Svella-backed takeover

£50m revenue target set as 14 firms combine under new Cubby Group banner
3 days ago

North East NHS trusts plot £3bn health estate overhaul

Market engagement begins for major construction push across four trusts
3 days ago

HG goes green on cranes in £1.2m switch to battery power

Diesel-free crane drive cuts fuel bills by 94%
3 days ago

Developer fined £165,000 for fire safety failings

Firm ignored fire safety orders on apartment job in Preston
3 days ago

Bidding to start for £1.8bn North West framework

Contractors invited to bid for latest Procure Partnerships deal
3 days ago

Hill hits record £90m profit as homes pipeline swells

Build-to-rent push and £4.8bn contracting book to fuel next growth phase
3 days ago

Rayner unveils £39bn plan to build 300,000 social homes

Council building revival and rent reform feature in social and affordable homes plan
4 days ago

Keltbray bounces back with £3.2m profit

Tighter controls and smarter project selection fuel strong turnaround
4 days ago

VINCI JV wins 500-home twin town centre revamps

Chester Northgate phase 2 and Northwich Weaver Square schemes move to delivery stage
4 days ago

80 energy projects unlocked as Ofgem backs grid expansion

£24bn energy networks deal gets green light from regulator
5 days ago

How to see your stories on the Enquirer

Join our Suppliers and Buyers directory to get your news published
4 days ago

Henley lands Midland Mill revamp on Leeds tower scheme

Restoration of 18th-century mill kicks off on South Bank regeneration project
4 days ago

New boss at Eric Wright Civil Engineering

Gavin Hulme takes top job as Diane Bourne moves to group role
4 days ago

Pinewood submits £1bn data centre plan

Studio giant adds green and learning spaces to tech hub blueprint
5 days ago

Record results after TClarke goes private

Britain's biggest M&E contractor flourishes after de-listing
5 days ago

Dalkia lands £200m nuclear maintenance deal

1,000 nuclear FM staff to join M&E contractor
5 days ago

Construction comeback to outpace wider economy

Arcadis forecast fueled by spending review optimism
5 days ago

First steel goes up on giant car battery site

Severfield gets to work on McAlpine Somerset site
5 days ago

Permasteelisa wins cladding deal on Bovis city tower

Facade specialist lands package at 60 Gracechurch Street
5 days ago

Fox buys recycled asphalt specialist Fisher

Acquisition adds major recycled asphalt capacity in north west
5 days ago