黑洞社区

An east London council has begun inspecting dozens of balconies at a Barking housing block after part of one collapsed into the street at the weekend.

Built by Bouygues for housing developer and association L&Q, the first phase of the Gascoigne Estate redevelopment was completed four years ago.

This phase, designed by Levitt Bernstein and which was later sold to Barking & Dagenham Council鈥檚 housing company B&D Reside, consists of more than 400 homes and is known as Weavers Quarter.

A council spokesperson said it was inspecting a further 70 balconies to ensure that they are safe and added: 鈥淲e are currently in discussions with Bouygues to impress on them the need to take urgent action on the concerns raised.鈥�

In a statement, Bouygues said: 鈥淔ollowing the incident at Weavers Quarter, where some soffit boards detached and fell from a balcony, our main concern has been ensuring residents鈥� safety.

鈥淲e are working hard with Reside to take immediate action, put the necessary safety measures in place and undertake appropriate remediation works.鈥�

The council added that its leader Darren Rodwell had recently raised concerns with Bouygues about workmanship on the project, telling the firm: 鈥淚n September, L&Q, the original development agent for the scheme, served a defect notice on Bouygues about the soundness of the balcony facades. I understand that Bouygues have accepted this notice, but not yet liability for the work.

>>See also: Is construction moving fast enough on building safety?

鈥淚 understand Bouygues have already completed repairs to some balconies on the estate. I expect all remaining inspections to be carried out at pace so that work can be completed to make good the remaining balconies.鈥�

Matt Lismore, chair of the residents鈥� association and a tenant at the Gascoigne Estate, said the fa莽ade had fallen off the balcony into the street, revealing 鈥渨orn bits of wood鈥�.

Lismore told 黑洞社区鈥檚 sister鈥檚 title Housing Today there had been a partial collapse of a balcony in summer 2021 and claimed some screws had become rusty, worked themselves loose and fallen off.

L&Q declined to comment.