Demolition out of control at Linden Homes St Clements site?

This is a perfectly sound tree which has just been felled by people working on the Linden Homes St Clements Development.  The workforce on site at the moment are employed by Squibb Demolition Contractors.

The trees on the site are all protected by the fact that the site lies within the Cemetary Park Conservation Zone.

• Consequently all tree lopping and felling is subject to a planning application to Tower Hamlets Council.  
• The last planning application was PA/09/01069 which related to several trees on the site - but not this one. This planning application has been removed from the planning database.

Following the removal of the tree, an email was sent to the Planning Department and a response was received

Thank you for your email which has been forwarded on to our planning enforcement team to investigate.

A detailed letter has now been sent to Tower Hamlets Planning Department - and copied to the local councillors - with respect to the failure to enforce planning applications and conditions on this site.

This highlights how a number of actions have been taking place on the site IN ADVANCE OF THE PROPER DISCHARGE OF PLANNING CONDITIONS.  This includes consultation with all near neighbours and Mile End Residents Association.

The local Councillors for Mile End are Shah Alam (Tower Hamlets First); David Edgar (Labour)  and Rachael Saunders (Labour).

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Southern Grove: Lines and Beatrice Tate School

Painting lines for a redundant facility in Southern Grove

We were wondering if anybody had told them that:
1) The building has closed
2) It's about to be demolished.

The proposal to relocate the Beatrice Tate School to the southern part of the Southern Grove site requires demolition of a single storey extension to Southern Grove Lodge - which falls within the Conservation Area.  A report on this site has been to the Development Committee.  The application to demolish all existing buildings to the south of the Victorian Southern Grove Lodge was referred to the Secretary of State at the end of 2011.  We're not clear yet whether there has been a decision.


Development Committee - Wednesday, 16th November, 2011 7.00 p.m

7.4

40-50 Southern Grove, London E3 4PX (PA/11/01919)  PDF 813 KB Decision: Update Report Tabled. Councillor Marc Francis proposed an additional condition agreed by the Committee that an approved plan of demolition be submitted covering the retention of materials from the existing buildings and the making good of the lodge. On a unanimous vote the Committee RESOLVED 1.         That the application for the demolition of all existing buildings to the south of the Victorian Southern Grove Lodge be referred to the Secretary of State with the recommendation that the Council would be minded to grant Conservation Consent subject to conditions and informatives set out in the circulated report AND an additional condition requiring a plan of demolition to be submitted covering the retention of materials from the existing buildings and the making good of the lodge.

Traffic Management

There are issues about the traffic management plan for the Southern Grove site which at present doesn't recognise the existence of another major building contract on the Eric & Treby Estate - which already has an accepted traffic management route in and out of the area.

The view of MERA is that any works on the Southern Grove site must follow the already established route in and out of this area - which is compliant with all traffic regulations and which residents are now used to.  Drivers also need to be aware that they are operating in an area where small children live.

Our Chair, Mark Taylor, is on the case! Highways are now looking into it.

Proposed Beatrice Tate School

This is the link to the developer's website and the proposed project to relocate Beatrice Tate School on to a new development at the southern end of the Southern Grove site.

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MERA gets noisy/dusty demolition stopped

Yesterday Mark Taylor, Chair of MERA contacted Tower Hamlets Environmental Health in connection with the very noisy and dusty demolition of the Walkway (Site 2b) next to Windermere House by Telford Homes's demolition contractor.

As a result the demolition site was yesterday shut down by Environmental Health.

Yet again the appalling standard of project managment by Telford Homes of this development - which ignores planning conditions and their own plans - has overstepped the mark - but our Mark is "on their case"!

This is what happened.  This is the content of the email which Mark sent yesterday

Demolition has started on the footpath/bridge at site 2B and is presently producing an excessive amount of dust which is being carried down the length of the bridge across our estate.

This work is ongoing at the moment - See video here taken at 13.00 on Thursday

The dust is rising up to the top floor walkway of the adjacent Windemere House where I know for sure (a resident with a serious medical condition lives). I spoke to his daughter today and she tells me that they received no warning from the developer this work was due to commence today.

This work is having an adverse impact on the air quality of the site and those living close by.  The planning conditions require the use of a hose/spray to damp down materials. There is a man with a low pressure hose vaguely pointing a hose in the general direction but as you will see from the video but this is clearly ineffective.

We look forward to a prompt response to this obvious disregard to the health and safety of local residents living on our estate as the developers clearly find it hard to grasp the fact that people live here and with just a little thought the regeneration/development process could be conducted with acceptable regard to residents health and safety.

This email is being copied to:-

• Richard Murrell (LBTH Planning case officer).
• Edward Hardy at the Considerate Contractor Scheme.
• Mile End East ward councillors who are members of EastendHomes Board
• Paul Hems at the HSE
• Bernie Cameron (Chair Mile End Estate Board)
• Andrew Osborne (EEH Project Manager)

This is the email which Mark and MERA received today.  We calculate that's two hours from video to shut down on site.

Dear Mark,

Following you email yesterday, I attended site 2B and stopped all works on site at about 15:00. I agreed with the contractor that no works should take place till the got more suppression mechanism on site. I believe that they have increased water suppression on site today..........

Okey

This is the demolition contractor who has committed numerous infringements of planning conditions in relation to health and safety - one of which has the potential to result in a criminal prosecution.......

We will be following up the behaviour of Telford Homes and their disregard for the health and safety of residents with both the Health and Safety Executive and the Considerate Contractor Scheme.

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Demolition - the movie (aka Telford Homes breaches planning conditions yet again!)

I don't think we need to explain this one too much.  Telford Homes plc are obliged to use appropriate controls to keep dust on the Eric & Treby Construction/Regeneration Site to a minimum

We don't see any controls at all.  Do you?

So that's another email from MERA to:

• Andy Osbourne - the EastendHomes Project Manager
• Jen Taylor and Okey Nkoka at LBTH Environmental Health (re environmental / health and safety concerns)
• Richard Murrell and Thomas Doyle at LBTH Planning (re breach of planning conditions) 
• Paul Hems at the HSE (re quality control of the site from health and safety perspective)
• Edward Hardy at the Considerate Contractor Scheme. (re a complaint about this site)
• Mile End East ward councillors - who are also members of EastendHomes Board - whose duty is to look after the interests of local residents

It will contain a link to this blog post and YouTube video.

Keep an eye on the new Flickr set in which we will be putting all the photos we take of breaches of planning conditions on site 15.

Tomorrow - the story of the demolition of site 10.  Finally the contractors realise they've been photographed for the last two weeks.........

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Demolition Assistance from Tower Hamlets Environmental Health Team

Yesterday MERA learned two things

1.  Tower Hamlets needs to protect buildings in Conservation areas as well as design!

First, Tower Hamlets Planning needs to address a major deficit in its practices in relation to protecting Conservation Areas.

Unfortunately the approved construction management plan (condition 5) of the planning permission granted does not have control over the effects of vibration and potential for damage to neighbouring properties resulting from the demolition process. You are correct in taking the matter up with environmental health.

It would seem that Planning is more interested in the design impact rather than whether the buildings are maintained in good order while demolition and construction takes place!

Some questions:

• What on earth is the point of Tower Hamlets Council having a Conservation Policy for its heritage if buildings are going to be shaken severely due to very poor demolition practice by the contractor?
• WHY does the Construction Management Plan not offer adequate protection to nearby buildings in a Conservation Area?
• WHY does the permission for demolition affecting buildings in a Conservation Area not have planning conditions which outlaw the type of adverse outcomes which result from poor demolition practice?
• What's the point of having a Council planning function if developers can do what they like?

2.  Tower Hamlets Environmental Health continue to be very helpful!

The Health and Environment Team personnel which MERA spoke to yesterday were very helpful in providing support for the local residents and the Mile End Residents Association.

Environmental Health officers continue to assist with the very poor practices being adopted by the demolition contractors employed by Telford Homes (see Demolition starts - and so do breaches of controls for an earlier example of poor practice)

• The Telford Homes Construction Director was contacted very quickly and the problem explained.  MERA understands he was planning to make a visit to ensure there were no repeat offences.
• Vibration machines have been offered to homes in block severely affected by the impact vibration from demolition on the Brokesley Street site in order to the record the extent of the impact vibration should it continue

To date, demolition practice seems to have improved and there has been no reasons to contact Environmental Health to make an appointment for the installation of the vibration machines.

We hope by now that both Telford Homes and the Construction contractors have learned that MERA will not put up with any poor practices when demolition is occurring.

Should poor practice continue in relation to demolition practices MERA will again be contacting the Health and Safety Executive (London - Construction sites).

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Telford Homes Demolition shakes buildings in Conservation Area

The demolition of 1-14 Brokesley Street by Telford Homes started yesterday.

The impact vibration from the demolition is currently causing serious concerns for the wellbeing of the building at 644-648 Mile End Road which is connected to 1-14 Brokesley Street via party walls

Impact vibration caused by the method used for demolition is causing the 1848 building to shake significantly and concerns are being expressed about the risks to the original plaster ceilings.

We thought Conservation Areas were supposed to protect our heritage and health!

Planning and Environmental Health have both been contacted as has Cllr Rachael Saunders, who is both the ward councillor and a Board member of EastendHomes who are responsible for the development.  Let's see how long it takes to get some action to prevent this irresponsible approach to old buildings in this Conservation Area.

The yellow arm of the digger machine being used to demolish the flats at 1-14 Brokesley Street.
This is being dropped from a height onto the roof and causing 
very significant vibration to the building siuated on Mile End Road 
which is connected to the flats via party walls
The party wall between site 10 and St Clements Hospital was the subject of 
a Conservation Act planning application to allow access for the digger

The simplest solution would seem to be that the connection between the two buildings must be removed as soon as possible.

This means the demolition of the end wall of 1 Brokesley Street needs to be executed as soon as possible to separate it from the party wall and thus disconnect the significant level of vibration.

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Quality control by Telford Homes Banksmen? NOT!!!

Gate to Telford Homes Site Office demolished by a truck....and where were the banksmen?

Says it all really!

Despite promises from Telford Homes about the use of banksmen and the effectiveness of "modern reversing cameras" a driver visiting the Telford Homes site office and compound in Hamlets Way managed to hit and comprehensively demolish their own compound gates.

Let's all hope that the driver responsible receives further training before he leaves the relative safety of the Telford Homes compound right next to the entrance to multi-storey Ennerdale House.

In the meantime, the site compound remains open to children - as can be seen in this photo.

We also noted yesterday that the gates to the St Clements Hospital site had been left wide open - again making it easy for children to access the site.


Not all children can read "keep out" notice.

We had rather hoped that all site operatives could and knew that they need to keep gates to site compounds closed at all times.

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Demolition starts - and so do breaches of controls

Last week, demolition started on the Eric & Treby Regeneration scheme.

First, the garages at Wentworth Mews (Site 8) were demolished

Site 8 (Wentworth Mews garages):
Demolition of garages - with not a spray in site to control the dust

Then the muncher had a go at munching a bit of the Brokesley Street maisonettes (Site10)

Site 10 (Brokesley Street maisonettes):  The Muncher takes a bite. 
Dust was seen rising above the height of the maisonettes

We were concerned about whether Environmental Health have got the necessary precautions in place to protect the neighbourhood  and local residents from excessive noise and dust.  So MERA contacted Environmental Health and arranged to meet them for a walk around the various sites which will be most affected.

On Tuesday morning, three MERA reps - Mark (Chair), Lene (Secretary) and Katherine (Planning Lead) - met up with Okey Ngoka, who is the Technical Officer (Major Projects) working for Tower Hamlets Council's Environmental Health Department and Felix Oku who also works for Environmental Health dealing with Site Contamination.

We had a very productive meeting.  Not least when were stood right next to this.....

Site 8 (Wentworth Mews garages): Dust cloud unchecked by water spray as required

.....which was quite a neat way of illustrating to Environmental Health the way Telford Homes acts as if it believed that planning permissions, planning conditions and health and safety legislation do NOT apply to them or this development.  Wrong!!! 

We viewed the various sites and established what we need to do to keep Environmental Health informed.  We've also been promised a noise meter installed BEFORE the demolition of the concrete walkway bridge gets underway.  This will monitor the impact on adjacent residents in Windermere and Derwent House, Ennerdale House and Beckley Houses - as this is likely to be the most noisy operation on site.

Then Mr Ngoka went off to have a word with the Telford Homes Site Manager about quality controls and the proper application of processes to control dust!

As with the earlier site preparation works, we will be taking photographs and video of the sites as demolition progresses and this blog will be used to communicate with all the appropriate parties.

Watch out more "Caught on Camera" moments in this epic development!

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