Asbestos in Southwark Tower Block

Posted on July 21, 2010 with No Comments

Residents of an asbestos-riddled tower block will be asked to leave their homes, as Southwark Council considers plans to sell the building off to private developers.

The Bermondsey block is being considered for sale because the £12.2million cost of making it “decent” is “very difficult to justify,” according to a report.

The ‘News’ revealed in March this year how council officers had prepared a report that advocated that the block be sold to private developers, but they had crucially “failed” to consult with the residents who would be affected by such a move.

Extensive consultation has since taken place with most of the occupants living in the 144 flats. Though no decision has been taken on the future of Maydew House, Abbeyfield Estate, a report to be considered by the Cabinet next week makes it apparent that the favoured option is to sell the building as quickly as possible.

The report states that the cost of the alternative – bringing the block up to standard – represents more than a quarter of the total £40million budget for all housing refurbishments across the borough.

If the Cabinet does decide to refurbish the block, the five leaseholders could also be landed with bills of more than £80,000. The report states: “Investment of this level represents a significant and disproportionate pressure for the decent homes budget and given the housing investment gap is considered to be very difficult to justify.”

As a result of the large amount of asbestos found prior to the report, the building would have to be emptied to allow its removal, so residents will have to leave their homes whether the council decides to sell it or refurbish it.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet is expected to agree with the officers’ recommendation that all residents are immediately re-housed, with all secure tenants being placed on Band One – top priority – of the council’s housing search scheme. The ‘News’ also understands that a new development, Montreal House, at Canada Water, will be ringfenced for the secure tenants to move to if they wish.

Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Ian Wingfield, told the ‘News’: “For this meeting the main priority is the residents. They must come first before any decision on the block is taken.”

A decision on the future of the block, whether to sell or not, is expected to be taken after the council receives a report from the London Fire Brigade. Work on the prospects for the entire Abbeyfield Estate is also currently underway, with an appraisal being conducted by architects Levitt Bernstein and cost consultants BPTW.

This stems from the original report in January, which stated that Maydew’s neighbouring blocks, Damory and Thaxted Courts, “could be included in a sale” as “risk mitigation” – making the deal more attractive for developers.

Image and Editorial Source: Oliver Pugh Southwark News

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