London council ends dispute with McLaren
Summary
Barking and Dagenham Council says it has resolved an adjudication dispute with McLaren Construction concerning the power supply arrangements at the 12 Thames Road mixed-use development in Barking. The issue centred on whether the scheme’s electrical resilience met British Standards, particularly in relation to firefighting lifts and sprinkler systems during a fire and simultaneous power outage.
Why it matters
The case highlights how compliance concerns around backup power and life-safety systems can delay occupation of high-rise residential schemes. Surveyors involved in new-build or mixed-use developments should note the potential implications for certification, handover, and post-completion disputes.
Key points
- Dispute related to secondary power supply at a £85m mixed-use high-rise scheme.
- Council said the lack of backup power could affect firefighting lifts and sprinkler systems in an emergency.
- McLaren disputed the council’s interpretation of compliance with British Standards.
- The development reached practical completion in December 2024 but remained unoccupied in January 2026.
- The council says the matter has now been resolved through adjudication, though details are undisclosed.
This is an RPSA summary of a publicly available article. The full content remains with the original publisher.
