COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Residents are “petrified” after it was revealed that a block of flats in Tile Hill are at risk of “partial collapse”



The homes, in the four-floor Philmont Court, were built in 2007 by Westbury - a division of Persimmon Homes.

But it has emerged that there are problems with the way the 48 flats, which are home to about 100 people, were constructed.

Residents have been informed by social housing landlord Whitefriars - which operates some of the properties at the complex - that there was weakness with the way wall ties used on the brickwork were installed.

According to a letter sent to residents by Whitefriars, that means “under extreme circumstances, the brickwork could be at risk of failure.”

The letter adds that things which could trigger a “partial collapse” would include rare “extreme high winds” or “a car hitting the building.” The front walls of the Philmont Court building face directly onto a car park.

But Whitefriars insist the building is not unsafe and that it does not think there is the need for anyone to leave the building while temporary bracing work takes place - but it hasn’t ruled out evacuations in the future.

Residents have also been informed that emergency remedial work will take place to address the structural issues and that Whitefriars is pursuing a claim against the National House Building Council (NHBC), which provided a 10-year warranty for the homes.

Whitefriars has taken on leading the claim despite there being a mix of ownerships within the building.

Residents evacuated from 'unsafe' blocks of flats for up to a year



‘UNSAFE’ Coventry blocks of flats – constructed only ten years ago – have been evacuated after developers built it with serious structural faults.

Residents have been moved out of flats at Philmont Court, in Bannerbrook Park, Tile Hill, due to safety concerns.

The occupants have been told it could take up to a year to complete repairs.

The blocks contains 48 flats with 39 households currently occupying the flats – including ten families with children.

Residents told us they have been trying to get the ongoing issues resolved for three years.

The National House Building Council (NHBC) is leading an investigation into the development of the complex.

WHA, which purchased the flats from developers Persimmon Homes, said residents were moved out as a “direct result of how the flats were built by the developer.”

Persimmon homes has said it is ‘aware’ of issues at Philmont Court.

The WHA say repair work is covered under the NHBC new build warranty and includes meeting reasonable costs for re-housing where this is required.

The NHBC says it is working with all residents to facilitate the rehousing process.

This includes support with finding a new home, deposit for that home and removal expenses.

A spokesperson from the WHA said: “Like residents, we purchased these new homes ten years ago believing them to be well built. We discovered that in some instances the buildings have not been constructed in accordance with the how they were designed. Fortunately it is possible to put this right.

“Because the problems at Philmont Court are a direct result of how the flats were built by the developer, the cost of repairing these properties and returning them to the standard they should have been built to is covered under the NHBC new home warranty.

“We fully explored the possibility of carrying out the work without the need to move people from their homes, but technical experts from NHBC, external consultants and contractors all agreed that it would be unsafe for residents to remain in their homes.

“The NHBC is working closely with residents to help them with the re-housing process and provide financial support to meet the additional costs involved.”

Residents still living in building that 'could collapse'

A number of residents are still living in a block of flats which they were told to evacuate weeks ago.

Nearly 50 families were last month told to evacuate their homes at Philmont Court in Tile Hill because the building 'could collapse'.

It's all because there's a problem with the way the walls of the 48-flat block were built by Persimmon Homes 10 years ago.

Most residents have already been rehoused while the problem is fixed by the National House Building Council (NHBC), but nine people are still living there.

Craig Macskimming-Barnet had been living in one of the flats for three-and-a-half years, and said he and his family were stressed and angry at the situation.

He said: "My other half lived has lived here since they were built ten years ago.

"I have lived here for three-and-a-half years, but my partner has had nothing but problems from the get go.

"Within six months there was mould, she had to throw clothes out because it ended up in the wardrobe and on clothes.

"Then last April/May we were told about the walls.

"It turned out there was not adequate ties between the interior and exterior timber frames.

"It is scary to think the building could collapse if there is a really strong gust of wind or a car crashed into it.

"We were looking for a new place to live anyway, but that isn't the point.

"It has been an extremely stressful time, and I've been left quite angry over it too.

"All residents are due to move out, they can’t start work until all apartments are empty, but last time I spoke to NHBC, there were some people who had not started the moving process, and some who were refusing to leave."