Exclusive flats struggling to shed Grenfell-style cladding

RESIDENTS of an exclusive development covered in dangerous Grenfellstyle cladding are to take legal action against the developer over the slow progress in making their flats safe.

A group of people living in New Capital Quay are concerned that Galliard Homes may never remove the aluminium composite material from 11 tower blocks on the site, or may take years to complete the project.

The Greenwich apartment complex, which is home to 2,000 people, is thought to be the largest site in the UK with the cladding that was partly blamed for the rapid spread of the fire which killed 72 people in Grenfell Tower in June 2017.

It was identified as one of 354 building sites in the UK to have the discredited material when the Government ordered an audit of properties more than 60ft (18m) tall following the blaze.

Residents had faced bills of up to £40,000 each to cover the cost of removing the cladding but after months of wrangling with insurer the National House Building Council, it agreed to fund the work last July.

Eight months later, however, the removal work has only started on one of the tower blocks and residents are concerned that it will not be finished before the six-year deadline covering any defects in the construction of their flats expires. Over the last 18 months some residents have struggled to sell their flats and seen the value of their homes plummet.

Harry and Zoe Howe are expecting a baby and had hoped to sell up by 2020 to move into a larger home for their growing family. But they now believe the move is unlikely because they have not been told when the cladding will be removed from their block.

Mr Howe said: “Galliard has indicated that it will take 26 weeks to do

‘Galliard has indicated that it will take 26 weeks to do one block so they’re not exactly busting a gut’

one block, so they’re not exactly busting a gut to get this work done.”

The couple are also worried about having to flee the building with a newborn baby if a fire breaks out.

Mrs Howe said: “When we have the baby, the immediate concern will be having to evacuate the building – it would be an absolutely awful situation to have to get out with a newborn. There are other residents too, who are disabled or immobile and they’ve had those concerns since September 2017.”

At least 10 residents are taking legal action to protect their rights in case the cladding works are not completed or the costs are passed on to them. Galliard Homes declined to comment.