Cracks have appeared on the walls of one of the blocks in the Manor Estate in Bermondsey.
Residents of Pope House, on the corner of Anchor Street and Roseberry Street behind Southwark Park Road, noticed the alarming cracks appear on Tuesday.
Southwark Council workmen quickly put up scaffolding on the eleven-storey block to help with repairs, and fenced it off. No one has been evacuated, but people have been asked not to go on balconies, and move their cars away from the block.
Councillor Darren Merrill, Southwark’s cabinet member for council homes and homelessness, said: “We had a report that bricks on the side of Pope House on the Manor Estate appeared to have moved. We immediately sent our emergency team and building control officer to inspect the property. The bricks form the shell of the building, and we have already carried out work to make it safe.
“Structural Engineers are on site today to advise on the next course of action. Scaffolding has already been erected to support the external bricks, so we can do further checks and so the structural engineers can complete their investigations.
“We have asked people to move their cars and avoid balconies while we check the bricks are secure, and we appreciate residents’ help with this. Intensive inspections will begin today with our structural engineers and any repair work that is needed will follow once we have finished assessing it. If there are any safety concerns whatsoever we will take immediate action. Residents will be informed at all times and if they have any worries, we’re here to answer their questions.”