Contractor brings High Court writ saying WSP failed to identify electrical defects in luxury London apartments

Pearce Construction is suing consulting engineers WSP 好色先生TVs for 拢2.5m in a dispute over defective electrical work on 118 luxury apartments in central London.

Pearce accuses WSP of failing to realise that electrical work carried out by subcontractor IBS on the development at Shad Thames on the south side of Tower Bridge contained many defects.

The writ says the overall state of the electrical installations at the properties, part of which was a warehouse conversion, was dangerous and the best solution was to rewire it all.

Pearce claims that WSP should have appreciated the defects and scrutinised the works more closely. It also claims that WSP breached its terms of engagement by failing to use the reasonable care and skill demanded of a competent consultant.

The faults were discovered in April 2000 after a flood in one of the buildings, which meant earlier construction work had to be redone by Reeskail, a subcontractor engaged by Pearce after IBS went into receivership in January of that year.

In its report about the electrical work Reeskail found a number of defects including the use of plastic connector blocks, undersized wiring conductors, inadequate protection of cables and cables that had been damaged by construction work.

The report stated: 鈥淕enerally the standard of workmanship throughout the areas inspected was poor, and the standard of the installations unsatisfactory.

Generally the standard of workmanship was poor and the installations unsatisfactory

Reeskail report on electrical works

鈥淎cceptable cable routes were not adhered to. Little effort has been made to provide mechanical protection for the cables.鈥�

The High Court writ issued by Pearce states that in 1999 WSP had inspected some of IBS鈥檚 work and identified snagging but made no reference to the defects later identified by Reeskail.

Pearce claims remedial work costs of 拢1,564,236.94 and other costs amounting to 拢949,347.08, plus interest.

The scheme, which was developed by Nicholson Estates, part of the Crest Nicholson Group, and designed by architect BUJ, involved the refurbishment of a number of listed warehouses and new-build construction at Butlers, Grinders and Operators Wharfs.

Pearce鈥檚 contract sum for the works was about 拢11.5m and the subcontract for electrical, mechanical, public health services and associated works was awarded to IBS for 拢1.5m.

Neither Pearce nor WSP was prepared to comment on the dispute.