Latest:
Galliard Homes issued ultimatum by flat owners
00:00 06 Oct 1999
|
by Kathy Watson
Owners of flats on the troubled Burrell's Wharf development in London's Docklands have issued an ultimatum to builder, Galliard Homes to produce all the drawings or risk going to jail.
Galliard is in breach of a ruling by the Technology and Construction Court in June ordering it to release 106 documents and drawings relating to the flats where there are major structural and fire integrity defects.
Thus far, only two thirds of the drawings have been released with Galliard claiming it could not track down the rest.
But a spokesman for Burrell's Wharf Freeholds (BWF) said they had told Galliard where they were located. "We have given them a lot of extra time. The original order specified 14 days from 29 June," he said. Galliard Homes is not commenting.
If Galliard fails to comply this week, BWF threatens to take the housebuilder back to court where the court could fine the company and/or jail the directors.
The dispute began when residents complained about smells from the car park permeating the flats. Subsequently a surveyor's report found major building and fire integrity defects. The owner of a penthouse flat in one of the blocks took action separately to the other residents and recently won an out of court settlement against Galliard.
The National House-Building Council, which acted as building control inspector on three of the blocks, is in negotiations over the cost of repairs. It is also liable under its Buildmark warranty scheme for at least 350 of the flats.
The solicitor for BWF has received several calls from people in other developments facing similar problems following the publicity on Burrell's Wharf. "This problem looks to be more widespread than we thought," said Mark Fairweather of solicitor Fairweather Stephenson.
The Burrell's Wharf development is a combination of refurbished and newly built blocks. In all there are 406 flats in the 11 blocks. The original developer Kentish Homes went into receivership in 1989 and the unfinished blocks were completed by Galliard and its subsidiary, Packamist.
Owners of flats on the troubled Burrell's Wharf development in London's Docklands have issued an ultimatum to builder, Galliard Homes to produce all the drawings or risk going to jail.
Galliard is in breach of a ruling by the Technology and Construction Court in June ordering it to release 106 documents and drawings relating to the flats where there are major structural and fire integrity defects.
Thus far, only two thirds of the drawings have been released with Galliard claiming it could not track down the rest.
But a spokesman for Burrell's Wharf Freeholds (BWF) said they had told Galliard where they were located. "We have given them a lot of extra time. The original order specified 14 days from 29 June," he said. Galliard Homes is not commenting.
ADVERTISEMENT
If Galliard fails to comply this week, BWF threatens to take the housebuilder back to court where the court could fine the company and/or jail the directors.
The dispute began when residents complained about smells from the car park permeating the flats. Subsequently a surveyor's report found major building and fire integrity defects. The owner of a penthouse flat in one of the blocks took action separately to the other residents and recently won an out of court settlement against Galliard.
The National House-Building Council, which acted as building control inspector on three of the blocks, is in negotiations over the cost of repairs. It is also liable under its Buildmark warranty scheme for at least 350 of the flats.
The solicitor for BWF has received several calls from people in other developments facing similar problems following the publicity on Burrell's Wharf. "This problem looks to be more widespread than we thought," said Mark Fairweather of solicitor Fairweather Stephenson.
The Burrell's Wharf development is a combination of refurbished and newly built blocks. In all there are 406 flats in the 11 blocks. The original developer Kentish Homes went into receivership in 1989 and the unfinished blocks were completed by Galliard and its subsidiary, Packamist.
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Viewed Articles
ADVERTISEMENT