A contractor has been handed 100 hours community service and ten days Rehabilitation Activity after labourers disturbed asbestos and worked dangerously at height while refurbishing a disused park toilet block.

Southwark Crown Court heard how, in 2019, a charity hired a local contractor, Fahadh Rasheed, to convert a toilet block in Valentines Park, Ilford, into a community meeting centre. The work included replacing the weather-damaged roof.

Rasheed employed unskilled and untrained labourers to undertake this work. The labourers disturbed a significant amount of asbestos insulation board present in the structure, spreading asbestos debris around the site.

The construction work was brought to the attention of the HSE by a member of the public who observed the labourers working on the roof, without scaffolding or other control measures, to prevent them falling from height. The asbestos was later cleaned up by a licensed asbestos removal company.

An HSE investigation found that Rasheed had not carried out a refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey before work began. Furthermore, he had not ensured the workers he’d engaged had the necessary skills, knowledge and experience, including asbestos awareness training, to undertake this work.

Previously a jury had found Rasheed guilty of breaching safety regulations. At the sentencing hearing last week he was given a Community Order including 100 hours unpaid work and a 10 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

After the hearing HSE inspector David King said: “This was a case of a contractor completely failing to grasp the importance of planning, managing and monitoring construction work to ensure the health and safety of construction workers.

“Companies and their Directors should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Developer London Square has struck a series of deals at the Nine Elms Park site in south west London which will see the construction of three new residential towers.

London Square has agreed to purchase the final three phases of the site in a deal worth £400m in gross development value – and struck a partnership deal with build-to-rent pioneer Moda Living on land for two buildings on the site.

The land deal sees London Square exchanging contracts on 3.04 acres for £111.23m to deliver 756 homes across three sites.

London Square will deliver 186 private for sale apartments in a 22-storey three-sided bronze panelled building by architects Allies and Morrison which is set to be the tallest building in Nine Elms Park.

The acquisition paves the way for the launch of the company’s new build-to-rent division London Square Living.

A new partnership has also been agreed with Moda Living who will develop 437 apartments across two blocks ranging from nine to 13 storeys with London Square overseeing construction.

The sale of the final parcels of land to London Square and Moda Living will be the final piece of the regeneration at the 14-acre site of the former Royal Mail delivery office.

Adam Lawrence, Chief Executive, London Square, said: “We are delighted to be working with Moda Living, with its excellent reputation for delivering high quality homes and lifestyles.

“Nine Elms Park is an outstanding opportunity for us, delivering an exceptional landmark 22-storey building with homes for private sale in a prime location and enabling us to showcase the breadth of our offering with the launch of our build-to-rent division, London Square Living.

“We are building a much-needed pipeline of homes for rent, as well as affordable homes, alongside our longstanding track record of delivering exceptional homes for sale in the capital.”

Johnny Caddick, Chief Executive, Moda Living said: “We are excited to bring our brand to London, and this is the perfect place for our flagship scheme.

“With our core brand proposition focussed on unparalleled customer service, resident wellbeing, technology, community and ESG we aim to attract a broad demographic of members from across the capital and beyond.

“Our structure is now set up to deliver and operate thousands of homes for rent per annum across the UK and naturally London forms a a key piece of the jigsaw for our portfolio weightings.”

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.thegraduatemag.com/?p=1991

A contractor and its groundworks subbie have been fined £400,000 after unsafe excavation work left a worker with serious burns to his hand and arm.

High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court heard that, on the 2 August 2018, a groundworker was preparing the ground to install a post to carry an Automatic Number Plate Recognition Camera at Twyford near Reading, Berkshire.

Initially, the worker hand dug then started to use an 110V mechanical electric breaker when he struck a power cable supplying an adjacent British Telecommunications building.

The voltage of the cable was 415v causing the ground worker to receive an electric shock that caused burns to one hand and to his opposite arm.

An HSE investigation found that site plans for buried cables had not been consulted and a cable avoidance tool had not been used to locate buried services in advance of carrying out the work.

In addition, there was a lack of properly trained labour and supervision in place for the excavation works.

The principal contractor on site had failed to plan, manage and monitor the excavation works and also failed to provide adequate supervision for the project.

CLC Contractors Limited of Southampton pleaded guilty to breaching CDM regulations and were fined £400,000.00 and ordered to pay costs of £5,300.00.

Subcontractor Paul Gale, Company Director of PAG Building Services Ltd of Southampton also pleaded guilty to safety breaches

Due to the seriousness of the offence the case was referred to Aylesbury Crown Court where Gale was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment suspended for 24 months and 150 hour of community service. HSE was awarded costs of £7,200.

Speaking after the case, HSE inspector John Caboche said: “Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working.

“In this instance, readily available buried service records were not consulted, and a cable avoidance tool was not provided to the groundworks team. Utilising these simple steps would have prevented this serious incident.”

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.thegraduatemag.com/?p=1984

Hill Group and joint venture partner Marshall have secured planning for the 420-home second phase of the Marleigh development in East Cambridge.

This new phase will run in conjunction with the current phase to deliver 550 homes, a primary school, market square and community centre over the next five years.

Construction will start on site to build the homes in early 2022, when a mix of private and affordable apartments and homes will be delivered as part of the long term masterplan.

Every new home will feature a range of energy-saving and carbon reduction features, including fabric first designs, air-source heat pumps and photovoltaics.

Andy Hill of Hill Marshall JV said: “We are delighted to have secured planning for the delivery of more homes and community facilities in this exciting new neighbourhood in East Cambridge, which has attracted a broad mix of buyers already.

“We have an unwavering commitment to supporting the wider Cambridge local economy, and it has been excellent to see our efforts supported through this latest approval.”

Phase 2 has been underpinned by the vision and essential placemaking principles set out in the Design Code, created for the wider master plan.

As a result, the material palette has been carefully chosen to comply with the Design Code and features a diverse range of high-quality brickwork in a range of colours and textures. These materials establish an exciting street scene and integrate with the emerging character that has been developed in Phase 1.

Extensive cycle parking provisions have been incorporated for all residents, including the apartment buildings, each with a dedicated secure bike store close to the entrance.

The project team for Marleigh phase 2 includes Terence O’Rourke, JTP LLP, Bradley Murphy Design and WSP.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.thegraduatemag.com/?p=1974