Last June, Leamington House and Horatia House were found to not be ‘as strong as expected’, and residents had to temporarily move out due to safety concerns. The blocks previously saw ‘dangerous cladding’ removed, after both had failed the government’s fire safety tests. At the time, fire marshals were employed ‘round the clock’, and residents were told by Portsmouth City Council that they would ‘have to move out due to safety concerns’.
Structural reports produced after investigations of both buildings showed that concrete used in their original construction was not as strong ‘as expected’, and while there was said to be ‘no immediate danger’, residents of the 272 flats had ‘to move out temporarily’ while strengthening work was undertaken by the council. It noted that the ‘only serious risk’ would be from a gas explosion, but there is no mains gas supply in either building, while gas heaters are not allowed in either block.
While the incident was said to be unrelated to fire safety after the cladding was removed, it was discovered at the same time that the council was ‘examining options’ to remove and replace the cladding. In turn, the council reported that a new 24 hour security watch would be installed to ‘reassure residents’, with security guards posted at both buildings.
This was put in place after the structural issues were revealed, with James Hill, director of housing, neighbourhood and building services, stating that the guards will stop people ‘from bringing in any prohibited items that could explode’. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service backed the plans, and now Construction Enquirer has reported that the blocks are ‘set to be demolished’, after strengthening work was estimated to cost £86m.
The decision followed detailed structural reports on the buildings, which found ‘more deep-seated problems’, and structural engineers Wilde Carter Clack discovered that the original 1965 concrete slab was ‘extremely poor’, with the surface of floor panels ‘appear[ing] to have been sprayed with water or rained on’, with aggregate exposed and evidence of footprints.
In turn, the condition of the pre-cast concrete flooring panels beneath screed revealed voids caused by ‘poor quality compaction and variable concrete thickness’, with the estimated cost an issue in addition to the work potentially taking ‘as much as’ five years. At this point, the towers’ 800 residents are being moved out, with the city council’s cabinet to meet next week to decide on the demolition and new housing options.