Legal action centres on Chalcots Estate evacuation in June 2017

Camden council is seeking 拢130m of damages from a contractor and subcontractors over fire-safety remediation that it has had to carry out on four tower blocks.

The residents of Chalcots Estate were evacuated in June 2017 due to concerns about combustible aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding.

Now the local authority has submitted 拢130m worth of claims to the High Court to recover costs from the consortium contractor, Partners for Improvement in Camden (PFIC), who are currently in liquidation, and its main subcontractors, Rydon Construction, Rydon Maintenance, Faithful + Gould and United Living South for work carried out on the estate.

Chalcots Estate

Chalcots Estate

The contractor and subcontractors were responsible for the refurbishment and maintenance of the Chalcots Estate but the council had to step in to address multiple fire safety failings.

The council is taking legal action to recover costs related to the evacuation of Chalcots residents, the employment of fire marshals and security staff during the evacuation and beyond.

It is also seeking costs for the work carried out to repair the internal fire stopping, fire doors and other serious defects inside the Chalcots towers, plus the removal of ACM cladding from the blocks鈥 facade.

A Camden council spokesperson said: 鈥淲e were let down by PFIC, Rydon and other contractors.鈥

He also said the costs of the supporting residents during the evacuation and level of work required at the Chalcots made a 鈥渕ajor impact on the council鈥檚 cash reserves鈥.

The claims have been submitted following a two-year examination of agreements, contracts and works to show where responsibility lies forthe range of fire-safety defects at the site.

Chalcots Estate

Rydon declined to comment.

Faithful + Gould and United Living South have all been contacted for comment.

Chalcots Estate