Homeowners want build laws change
Celestia housing development, Cardiff Bay. Pic: James Stringer
LEASEHOLDERS facing huge repair bills after they unwittingly bought apartments in buildings that have serious fire risks say it’s unfair that the company which developed their homes is still having planning applications approved.
This article orgininally appeared in the Western Mail on l3 Nov 2021 and was written by MARTIN SHIPTON, Political editor-at-large
The Celestia complex comprising around 450 flats in several blocks in Cardiff Bay was commissioned by the Wales-based developer Redrow, which has recently received a number of planning approvals from Welsh local authorities.
Some homeowners fear the cost of making the buildings safe could bankrupt them.
They would like planning laws changed so councils assessing planning applications can take into consideration the previous business record of applicants.
Mark Thomas, who chairs the Celestia Management Company, which represents leaseholders, said: “This all-consuming crisis has been going on for far too long and homeowners in Celestia and across Cardiff Bay and Wales are desperate to get their lives back and move on.
“People caught up in this crisis did everything right - they had surveys completed, they took legal advice, they paid their money - only to subsequently find out what they were buying was seriously defective. Now they are being asked to pay to correct it. It is a huge injustice. You get more protection buying a kettle or hoover than you do a Welsh home in 2021.
“People can’t sell, move jobs, start a family, retire or sleep without worry - it’s an intolerable situation. Lives are being ruined by the relentless stress and financial worry. We all want the situation to end so we can get our lives back. Unfortunately there is no sign of that at the moment.
“Like most homeowners we would happily meet with developers such as Redrow tomorrow, to discuss ending this nightmare. However, previous promises of meetings have not materialised and it is clear we are now caught up in the bigger political issues of government tax levies and developers not wanting to pay twice for past failures.
“The mature response would be to sit down and work out a clear way to resolve the problems. Frustration levels are high and anger is growing all the time as the crisis drags on. There is also increasing worry about the health of some people. We already know of elderly people who are struggling to cope with the stress - it consumes you 24/7.
“People cannot understand how more planning permissions are being granted to developers while our homes go unrepaired. We also have the extraordinary situation where Cardiff council is actually assisting some developers with a “Help to Buy” scheme whilst they fail to remedy our defects. There is no sense of equality or natural justice in the way our plight is being dealt with by developers or elected authorities.”
A spokesman for Cardiff council said: “The developers argue that they haven’t done anything wrong, as when these buildings were signed off, they were signed off through the Building Regulations (as amended) applicable at the time of design / construction.
“This isn’t for the council to answer, as we don’t set the planning regulations. Given the information above, it is for the Welsh Government to respond.”
A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “The conduct of companies selling houses and the way they provide building services is a matter reserved to the UK Government. Our white paper ‘Safer buildings in Wales’ together with our input into the Building Safety Bill, currently before Parliament, sets out how we will address the failings that Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent review of building safety found, to help provide certainty that what is designed is delivered.”
Nigel Palmer, managing director of Redrow in South Wales said: “We’re very aware of the difficulties and uncertainty affecting residents of high rise apartments across the UK that have remedial cladding issues based on new standards. As a housebuilder primarily focused on delivering family homes, we only have a small number of high rise apartment blocks, which we have engaged with on a case-by-case basis.
“Celestia was constructed in 2006 by Laing O’Rourke under a design and build contract.
“Despite not being the freeholder, we have provided significant financial support to the management company and we will also be contributing significant funding through the recently announced developer tax.”