Southwark Council will commission an independent investigation into the Canada Estate’s major works programme that went £1.7 million over budget and seventeen months over schedule.
In a letter to residents on the Rotherhithe estate, housing boss Cllr Darren Merrill apologised for the “terrible experience” they’d endured.
Cllr Merrill wrote that the council has commissioned an “independent investigation” into the works.
The council would not clarify what the scope of the investigation would be when asked by the News.
This comes three months after Southwark News revealed people’s complaints that the refurbishment had been akin to a “comedy sketch”.
Tenants and leaseholders said the works left them with paint-splattered landings, holes in walls and “whistling windows”.
They also said the works were “stop-start” meaning the council “haemorrhaged” money – leaving leaseholders with bills rising to the tens of thousands.
In the letter posted through Canada Estate letterboxes, Cllr Darren Merrill wrote: “I wanted to write personally to you to apologise for the terrible experience you have had in recent years as contractors employed by this council carried out works that should have improved your homes.”
He continued: “We will be commissioning an independent investigation, and we will share those findings with you, along with our plan for how we can avoid similar issues in the future.”
Canada Estate Tenants’ and Residents’ Association Chair Barry Duckett said it was “disgusting that this has been allowed to go on”.
Urging Council Leader Kieron Williams to personally apologise for the “fiasco”, he added: “There needs to be a shake up of this cabinet, because you will not build a relationship with your tenants if you do not consult with them, do not listen to them and do not take any notice of what they have to say.”
The works on the Canada Estate began in October 2020 and were originally supposed to take fourteen months but weren’t finished until May 2023. Costs rose from an original estimate of £4,837,276 to £6,573,525.
One estate resident, Michael Robertson, consistently submitted freedom of information (FOI) requests to establish the reason for delays.
But Southwark Council blocked the FOIs claiming they are “vexatious”, a decision upheld by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
News of an independent investigation into the Canada Estate piles the pressure on an already beleaguered housing department.
Last week, the council admitted it had suspended several staff members and may conduct fraud investigations after works on Bermondsey’s Devon Mansions estate went roughly £4.2 million over budget.
Local MP Neil Coyle has meanwhile accused Southwark Council of withholding a building inspection report into the Kirby Estate – where residents claim poorly installed windows are causing draughts.
Southwark Council did not respond directly to this paper’s request for comment on the Canada Estate investigation but instead provided a briefing paper.
In that paper, Southwark Council said it was carrying out a full review of all its major works contracts to ensure quality control.
The council said Covid, Brexit, inflation and high-interest rates had resulted in some projects overspending.
However, it added that “the vast majority are on target, and some are underspent”.
The briefing paper said: “We’re spending £1bn on works to council homes over the next decade. This is to make sure all our council homes are warm, dry and safe.
“We know the most important things for our residents are preventing mould and damp, watertight roofs, well fitted windows and doors, heating and guttering that doesn’t leak. Alongside this, fire safety is of the highest priority for the council.”