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The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
London residents win £550,000 compensation in cladding defects case
Residents of a multistorey development in London have received £550,000 in compensation from a housing association for cladding defects in a case they hope will set a precedent for other claims. Notting Hill Genesis (NHG) and the contractor United Living have also completed large-scale works at their own cost to remedy the buildings in the Exchange development in Bermondsey, south London. After the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 it emerged that thousands of buildings had similar combustible cladding and other fire risks. The Exchange development, consisting of five multistorey residential and mixed-use buildings, and constructed for NHG by United Living, had widespread fire safety defects, including aluminium composite material (ACM), combustible insulation and inadequate cavity barriers. In 2020, residents began a legal case to ensure the work was carried out to make the buildings safe and that they would not have to foot the bill. Kyle Taylor, 40, who works in civil society, said he and other Exchange residents had been shocked when they heard people in a nearby building had received bills of up to £40,000 for similar remedial works. 'It has been stressful,' he said. 'We're a mixed community so we have social tenants, private tenants, and first-time buyers through shared ownership. We're a building of teachers and nurses, key workers and young professionals. I know for myself and for a number of people those bills would not have been payable. 'We are pleased that NHG and United Living have at last done the right thing, but disappointed it took so long. We bought our homes in good faith and were devastated to discover they were not safe because of cost-cutting construction. 'We have had to live in unsafe homes for many years and are relieved that we can now start putting this behind us.' Taylor, who has lived in the development since it was completed in 2014, and has at times spent 40 hours a week on admin connected to the case, said he was pleased the terms of the settlement were not confidential. 'It was really important for me, from the perspective of public interest, that we could be an example for people that it is possible to win on the basis of truth and reality and what's correct and just, but also to inspire some [other] people to go for it.' The compensation will go to 76 leaseholders and independent freeholders and the terms of the settlement mean that none of the works or legal costs can be passed on to any future leaseholders or residents. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The residents had sought compensation for costs, including court and expert fees, having to live in unsafe homes and inconvenience caused by the building works. Christian Hansen, of Bindmans, who acted for the claimants on a no-win no-fee basis, said: 'What we've seen is that a lot of constructors are basically dragging their feet, they're not keen to do as many works as they should and they're fighting these cases. I can only hope that settlements like this will be a bit of a wake-up call to them that actually they should be settling these things sooner than they are.' An NHG spokesperson said: 'We are pleased to have reached a resolution on this case, having overseen the required building safety work at the Exchange. 'Our duty is to ensure the safety of our buildings and residents and this is always our top priority. Our publicly stated policy is that we do not recharge leaseholders for the costs of remediation work to external walls or balconies where they have been deemed to pose a risk of spreading fire.' United Living was also approached for comment.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Inside once 'gang-run' tower block where residents were told not to make a sound
It's an inner-city tower block estate once dubbed a 'no-go zone' where drugs and crime blighted the community. But fast forward to 2025, and residents say things have changed for the better in Heath Town, Wolverhampton. As the sun shimmered down on a warm May lunchtime, people walked the streets, happy and smiling. READ MORE: I visited Midland home with rare garden 'tower' you won't find anywhere else Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join A £150million project is currently taking place to regenerate the estate known locally as 'Fire Town', which was opened by Princess Margaret back in 1967. You'll find as many builders walking the streets as residents, donned in hard hats and high-vis jackets. The project has seen outdated buildings ripped down, flats colourfully revamped, and new houses built. A former resident told BlackCountryLive that the estate was once a "no-go zone." However, he said it was much quieter today and pointed out that the estate enjoys a multi-cultural community. United Living, which is delivering the regeneration work on behalf of Wolverhampton council, said more than 40 languages are spoken on the estate. A woman who lived in a house on Chervil Rise, near to the tower blocks, said: "It was only other people coming here and causing issues," referring to past issues of crime. She added: "I'm alright, I have bought my house." Long-term resident Dennis, aged 86, who was born in Jamaica, said: "I have lived here for quite a long time. It has changed a lot. "You used to have these guys and drugs all over the place, making noises, you don't have that much now. "We used to have the police station over there, but we don't have it now. Things are much different." A 17-year-old woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "It's pretty quiet here, before it used to be hectic, some parts of it are still like that. "I don't really see anything, though." During a visit by BlackCountryLive in April 2022, a mum recalled how crime used to be a big problem on the estate. The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, settled in Heath Town as a refugee from Somalia. She told BlackCountryLive crime was no longer a problem but added: "But before we used to see them," referring to 'they' as gang members. "They told us 'don't snitch and you will be okay," she continued. "All these boys went to jail. "It was a gang, the 'Fire Boys', they have names." As part of the regeneration project which has received multiple award, 200 new homes are being built across nine sites. While 36 maisonettes and a shopping centre have been demolished on Chervil Rise. Elsewhere, residential blocks have been refurbished on the inside and out, and fitted with thermal cladding, while heating systems and doors have been upgraded, new car parking spaces have been added and new play areas created. The estate appears transformed from when the project started in 2017, with residential blocks featuring strips of blue, green and orange on their outside. A spokesperson for United Living said: "We are committed to community-led place making. This means residents are at the heart of any regeneration project. "The main challenge has been resident engagement. More than 40 languages are spoken among the residents, and the fact that not all are fluent in English means engagement in formal consultations is typically low. "A dedicated Heath Town community liaison team has been onsite throughout the project, and working collaboratively with Wolverhampton Homes, we invested time and resources to understand the residents' objectives and ensure our approach was built around their priorities." The project picked up the The Regeneration & Conservation Award in May, while it previously won the UK Housing Award for best neighbourhood transformation in 2022. It's set to be completed by 2028.
