Residents in three blocks at the Royal Gateway development in Canning Town, London, were evacuated after serious structural problems were identified in buildings completed less than a decade ago. The issue is understood to relate to cracked transfer slabs, raising concerns about the integrity of relatively new residential construction.
Southend-on-Sea City Council has agreed to settle a late payment dispute with Auburn Group by paying almost £590,000 linked to refurbishment works at the Cliffs Pavilion. The project has also been affected by asbestos, slab and foundation issues, with the council noting further works remain outstanding and potential contractual disputes still unresolved.
Kane Group Building Services reported a strong year, with pre-tax profit rising almost 45% to £6.4m on turnover up 15% to £100.9m. The company paid a £6.2m dividend and increased investment in offsite manufacturing, while noting that labour shortages and slower new residential activity remain challenges.
