A pair of tower blocks in Woolwich, London, earmarked for demolition in 2023, are now allowed to stay standing based on a Planning Inspector’s verdict.
The ‘unlawful’ tower previously ordered for demolition by Greenwich Council can now remain with design changes and two multi-million pound pay-outs.
Developer Comer Homes ruled to pay nearly £7 million to Greenwich Council to avoid the demolition of its controversial building in south-east London. The Mast Quay Phase II – a 204-home residential building – was ordered for complete demolition within 12 months in September 2023. This was on the grounds that the building violated the planning policy with at least 26 material deviations from the approved planning permission it had been granted in 2012.
Comer Homes, who completed the scheme in 2022 after its original developer went into administration, appealed the demolition order in October 2023 with the Planning Inspectorate launching an inquiry last summer.
Inspector John Braithwaite’s list of 26 planning deviations was reduced to 11 by the ruling. While the demolition order was reversed, Braithwaite did not permanently overturn the demolition order, saying it should still apply if Comer Homes did not make the changes within the three-year timeframe.
This highlights the importance of being compliant to the planning policy and following the digital twin initially set up along with maintaining the ‘Golden Thread of Information’ _ ensuring all information on a building is up to code, easily accessible, reliable, up to date and accurate.
Daniel Parkin, Sales Director of construction-focused CRM firm KMS commented: “The Mast Quay Phase II project can act as a case study for the industry. If the building followed the digital twins approved by the council ahead of construction, the building may have been up to code and would not have had the demolition ordered. On the other hand, if Comer Homes did not maintain the ‘Golden Thread of Information’ for the project, they may have struggled to appeal against the demolition, resulting in the reversal of decision and reduction in planning deviations.”
Callum Thompson, CEO of Business Energy Claims added: “The construction industry, like so many other sectors right now, is feeling the pinch financially. Failing to stick to approved planning permissions can be seen as a cost-cutting measure but what if money could be saved on missold energy contracts? We’re here to help.”