23 April 2024 - Update\nRemedial work programmes\nThe November 2023 balconies – phase one \nBouygues UK is putting up some temporary netting around each balcony where the fascias and soffits have been removed, as an interim safety measure. The netting is designed to keep any small personal items from falling through the balcony railings. \nThe safety scaffolding is being taken down. A more detailed timetable for completion will be shared once it has been agreed with the contractors \nResuming use of the November balconies\n We want to be sure that there is no remaining risk to residents or the public and so we have asked Bouygues UK to confirm in writing that the balconies are safe to use once phase one is completed. We are also carrying out a comprehensive review of any potential risks resulting from the works to the balconies so far.\nTechnical report from Bouygues UK into the materials used on the November balconies\nYou may recall that Bouygues UK commissioned a report to provide expert analysis of the wooden materials used in the construction of the fascias and soffit fixings on the November balconies. The report has been shared with B&D Reside.\nIn summary, the report confirms that the timber components did not meet the requirements, leading to failure. \nAll the fascia and soffit supporting wood elements on the November balconies have now been removed. The next phase of the remediation is to agree a specification and design for the replacement fascias and soffits. These designs will be reviewed by Bouygues UK and the project team after which we will share the designs with you to get your feedback. We are pushing Bouygyes UK to make sure we are in a position to do this before the summer.\nWe have posted the full technical timber report in the \nWeavers Quarter FAQs\n . \nA summary of the full report is being made available shortly which we will share. If you have any questions in the meantime, please let us know and we will raise these with Bouygues UK on your behalf. \nThe September balconies – remedial works on the soffit fixings\nBouygues UK’s programme of remedial work for the September balconies is underway. If your balcony is affected by the soffit work, then you will receive communications from the team carrying out the work, to let you know the timings. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. \nBouygues UK continues to provide weekly safety inspections and reports back to L&Q and to us.\nWhen will the September balconies be returned to use?\nSafety considerations mean that people cannot use their balconies until Bouygues UK has confirmed that each is fit to use. We are pressing for a progress report on this and will update residents as soon as we know.\nBuilding safety – a wider review\nWe want to be able to reassure all residents that there are no other issues with the buildings at Weavers Quarter. We have asked our independent experts to carry out a survey of all the buildings to see if there are any visual indications that further intrusive investigations might be needed. \nEstate news\nLooking forward to a garden makeover\nWith spring on the way, we are looking at the grounds maintenance, gardening and cleaning services at Weavers Quarter.\nTo prepare for improvements, we have scheduled some immediate preparatory work which you should start to see happening over the next few weeks:\nRemoving all dead plants and trees ready for replacements \nBuilding up the soil and compost levels within the planters to ensure the best possible condition for new plants to establish themselves. You might be interested to know that this requires a hefty 15 tonnes of compost.\nPutting down decorative bark across the estate to maintain moisture levels and to give an attractive look to the beds.\nThank you to everyone who provided suggestions for the type of plants you would like to see. We hope there will be something for everyone to like in the mix of plants chosen – which we’ve pictured below to give you an idea of the planting planned. \nThe plants are on order from the supplier and should be with us by the beginning of June.\n\nPlease note, there is no cost to residents for this preparatory garden makeover project.\nReporting repairs \nPlease remember that you can report repair issues, including issues about balconies, using the EVO app.\nOther important updates\nWe will continue to post information and answers to common questions on the FAQ section of the Weavers Quarter website.\n

28 March 2024 - Update\nRemedial work programmes\nThe November 2023 balconies – Phase One is nearing completion\nThe removal of all the fascias and fittings on the 77 balconies of the design involved in the incident in November 2023, is very close to completion.\nWhat is the next step? \nBouygues UK will finish this stage of the work by putting up some temporary netting around each balcony as an interim safety measure. The netting will keep any items from falling through the balcony railings. We expect the next step will be the removal of the safety scaffolding.\nResuming use of the November balconies \nWe want to be sure that there is no risk to residents or the public and so we have asked Bouygues UK to confirm in writing that people are safe to use their balconies once Phase One is completed. We will let you know once we have this assurance. Of course, balconies will need further work to replace the fascias with suitable alternative materials, which will again temporarily put balconies out of use. We are hopeful that residents with these types of balconies should soon be able to resume using them. We will have a more exact timetable after the Easter holidays.\nDesign of replacement components \nPhase Two introduces the new, replacement decorative fascias. Discussions about the design and materials are already underway. We want the design and functionality of replacements to closely match what was there before. So far, we have only received one option from Bouygues UK. We did not consider it an adequate match and so Bouygues UK has been asked to present an alternative for residents to consider. We also want to be sure that options meet the appropriate safety and sustainability standards. Bouygues UK is aware this process is taking longer than expected and so we have requested they submit a suitable option as soon as possible. We will then share the designs with you to get your feedback. The local planning authority will also need to be involved.\nThe September balconies – remedial works on the soffit fixings\nBouygues UK’s programme of remedial work for the September balconies is underway. If your balcony is affected by the soffit work, then you will receive communications from the team carrying out the work, to let you know the timings. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.\nBouygues UK is carrying out weekly safety inspections and reporting back to L&Q and to us.\nWhen will the September balconies be returned to use? \nBouygues UK’s team has said they aim to hand back each balcony as soon as the remediation work is done. However, safety considerations as well as the practicality of certifying that each balcony sofit has been satisfactorily completed one by one rather than in batches has yet to be confirmed.\nCompensation\nSome residents have asked if compensation is due as a result of the defects and the remediation. We have also raised this point with L&Q and Bouygues UK. We will not allow the conclusion of the remedial works programme to pass without a definitive answer on this question, and I will provide further updates in the coming weeks.\nEstate news\nNew grounds maintenance, gardening and cleaning services are coming soon\nAs you may recall, we have been working to transfer grounds maintenance and gardening services and also the cleaning service away from the current provider to EVO, which has already resulted in a much-improved repairs and maintenance service. The primary drivers for the change are value for money and improved service. The service will officially change over on 1 May 2024. Resident satisfaction feedback is an important measure of improvements and assessing the service provider’s performance.\nAhead of this change, we have asked EVO’s gardening team to undertake some preparatory work. This work will get the garden areas ready for new planting. The preparatory work will not be recharged to residents.\nWhat do you want to see in the gardens?\nWe know that residents have been unhappy about the state of the garden areas for a long time. We are confident that EVO will be able to make real improvements to the appearance of the gardens so that people can get more enjoyment from them.\nWe think a mix of flowering shrubs, flowers and a variety of foliage and grass areas would be good, but what are your thoughts? We would love to hear your ideas for the type of plants you think would improve Weavers Quarter. We will then liaise with the gardening team so that they can make sure plants are suited for the location.\nReporting repairs\nPlease remember that you can report repair issues, including issues about balconies, using the EVO app.\nOther important updates\nWe will continue to post information and answers to common questions on the FAQ section of the Weavers Quarter website.\nMore information\nWe send out regular updates about the balconies at Weavers Quarter.\nIf you have any questions have a look at the \nFAQs\n page or you can contact us on the dedicated email address: \nweavers@bdreside.co.uk\n

27 February 2024 - Update\nThe November 2023 balconies – remedial works to the fascias\nAs we reported in the last update, Bouygues UK has confirmed that it is on track to complete the first phase of the remedial programme (the removal of the existing fascias) by the end of March 2024. \nBouygues UK has not yet provided us with details of what is proposed for the design of the replacement components, but we do expect more information in the next few days. We want your feedback on the designs so we will share these with you after we receive them. As part of the process of finalising the design of the replacement components there will also be discussions with the local planning authority at Barking & Dagenham Council.\nWe are also waiting for the technical analysis commissioned by Bouygues UK. This will help understand the underlying cause of the failure of the fascia fixings. This is important information. It will help determine what additional investigations might be needed. We will keep you updated.\nThe September balconies – remedial works on the soffit fixings\nBouygues UK’s programme of remedial work for the September balconies is already underway.\nIf your balcony is affected by the soffit work, then you will receive communications from the team carrying out the work, to let you know the timings. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.\nAccess to carry out soffit work\nThe type of access will differ depending on the location of each balcony. Some work can be carried out from the balcony below and some will need to be accessed via separate mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs). \nBouygues UK is carrying out weekly safety inspections and reporting back to L&Q and to us.\nWhen will you be allowed to use your balconies?\nThis is a question many of you have asked. Together with L&Q, we are pressing Bouygues UK for a clear timetable showing when balconies will be available to use as normal. \nIn other news\nService charge estimates for leaseholders and rent change letters for all residents\nIf you are a B&D Reside resident, you will receive letters in the post this week with estimates of your service charges (if applicable) and rent changes for the year ahead. If you are an L&Q resident you will already have received letters. \nIf you have any questions about the contents of those letters, please follow the contact advice in those letters. \nReporting repairs \nPlease remember that you can report any repair issues including issues about balconies via the Evo app.\nMore information\nWe send out regular updates about the balconies at Weavers Quarter. \nIf you have any questions have a look at the \nFAQs\n page or you can contact us on the dedicated email address: \nweavers@bdreside.co.uk\n\n

7 February 2024 -Update\nWe're happy to report that there has been some progress on the remedial works programmes currently underway on the balconies at Weavers Quarter.\nThe November balconies – remedial works to the fascias\nBouygues UK has confirmed to L&Q, the development manager, and to us that it is on track to complete the first phase of the remedial programme (the removal of the existing fascias) by the end of March 2024. Whilst that is encouraging, we are waiting on proposals for the next part of the work which is replacing the facings on these balconies with suitable materials. Together with L&Q, we have insisted that Bouygues UK shows us its design proposals as soon as possible so that we can consult with you and hear your views about Bouygues UK’s designs. \nWe have yet to see sight of the technical analysis commissioned by Bouygues UK, that will complete the picture and confirm the underlying cause of the failure of the fascia fixings.\nTogether with L&Q, we are pressing Bouygues UK for a timetable of how soon your balconies will be available to use as normal.\nThe September balconies – remedial works on the soffit fixings\nBouygues UK has now sent us a proposed outline programme of remedial work for the balconies which share the same design as the balconies where the soffit boards are bowing. This shows work to balconies of this design starting in the week of 19 February 2024. The outline programme indicates that work should be completed by the middle of April. We will share more details of what the work entails when we have these. \nAccess to carry out the work\nAccess to the balconies involved will be needed. The type of access will differ depending on the location of each balcony. Residents whose balconies are affected will be contacted separately to agree convenient access arrangements. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.\nInspections of the balconies have identified which ones have visual signs of bowing in the soffit panels. Although the remedial programme covers all balconies of this design, these balconies will be prioritised subject to access. In the meantime, Bouygues UK will carry out weekly safety inspections and report back to L&Q and us. \nWe will be monitoring the work and progress closely.\nQuestions?\nIf you have any questions, please contact us on the dedicated email address: \nweavers@bdreside.co.uk\n\nReporting repairs \nPlease remember that you can report any repair issues including issues about balconies via the Evo app.\n

25 January 2024 - Update\nEarlier in the week we let you know about the report from aresident at Braid Court about a loose soffit on a balcony. EVO, our service partner, attended at the weekend and made sure that balcony was safe with a temporary repair. \nThe September balconies – soffit remedial works\nThe balcony reported at the weekend in Braid Court is one of the design of balconies that were identified in September 2023 as requiring additional remedial work. \nGiven the report on Sunday and the risk of further storms, we met with Bouygues UK and L&Q on Tuesday to press upon them the need for work to these balconies to start without delay. \nBouygues UK has confirmed that they have carried out a visual inspection this week together with the balcony manufacturer to identify which of the September balconies are a priority for remedial work. We also asked EVO to carry out a further visual inspection on our behalf across the estate to cross-check which balconies have a similar issue.\nWe were pleased to hear from Bouygues UK that as it has a regular presence on site and they are committed to carrying out regular inspections until the programme is complete.\nWe are expecting to receive details of Bouygues UK’s schedule to get this work done shortly and we will notify individual residents of when work will be done as soon as we have that information.\nThe November balconies - fascia remedial work\nSafety scaffolding remains in place around these balconcies, whilst Bouygues UK are progressing on time with Phase One of the remedial programme. We have formally requested the proposals for Phase Two – which is the proposals for replacing the facings on these balconies. \nAs soon as we receive these proposals we will share with you.\nQuestions?\nIf you have any questions, please contact us on the dedicated email address: \nweavers@bdreside.co.uk\n\nReporting repairs \nPlease remember that you can report any repair issues including issues about balconies via the Evo app.\n

22 January 2024 - Update\nOver the weekend a resident in Braid Court reported concerns that the soffit panel on the underside of the balcony above theirs had become loose. The out-of-hours repairs team attended on Sunday afternoon and made sure the soffit did not present a safety risk.\nWe are grateful to the resident for spotting the issue and reporting it promptly. \nSafety precautions in place\nOur previous safety advice regarding balconies remains in place: please stay off and away from your balconies until further notice.\nThis advice applies to all balconies of all designs across the Weavers Quarter of the Gascoigne Estate. If you spot an issue with your or your neighbours’ balcony, please report it so that we can attend promptly.\nWhich balconies are which at Weavers Quarter?\nSome residents have asked for more clarity about which balconies are subject to ongoing work. We are sorry for any confusion we have caused. Hopefully, the following clarification is useful:\nDesign types\nAs you know, there are separate and different balcony types on the buildings in Weavers Quarter. Regrettably, certain designs have experienced problems requiring remedial work. For ease of reference, we are calling these the November balconies and the September balconies for the reasons set out below. Because the designs are different the issues identified are specific to that design.\nThe November balconies\nThe November balconies share the same design as the one involved in the incident at Clove Court on 11 November last year. These balconies have safety scaffolding around them and are subject to the latest remediation work programme being carried out by Bouygues UK. The November balconies are the ones we have been communicating with you about over the last two months. \nThe September balconies\nPrevious to this, in September 2023, a separate set of balconies, of a design different to the November balconies, was identified as needing a remediation programme. A defect notice was sent in September by L&Q to Bouygues UK about those balconies. The balcony where the loose soffit was reported over the weekend is one of the September balconies and is covered by the specific remediation programme which Bouygues UK is carrying out. \nWe are liaising with Bouygues UK and L&Q (the development manager) to get a progress update on the September balconies remediation programme. There is a meeting taking place this week to provide more information on this programme. We will share details with you once we have them.\nQuestions?\nIf you have any questions, please contact us on the dedicated email address: \nweavers@bdreside.co.uk\n\nReporting repairs \nPlease remember that you can report any repair issues including issues about balconies via the Evo app.\n

19 January 2024 - Update\nLast week we mentioned that we were hoping to share more details of the scheduling of the first phase of the balcony remediation works being carried out by Bouygues UK.\nUpdate on balconies\nAs you know, safety scaffolding has been installed to allow work to begin on the affected balconies. Bouygues UK has begun work to remove the decorative brick slip panels from the balconies.\nWhat to expect during this work\nThere will be an increase in activity on the scaffolding. Bouygues UK will make sure that their contractors do the work with as little disruption to you as possible. Inevitably, the nature of this essential work means there will be some disturbance and inconvenience for some people.\nTimings\nBouygues UK tell us that their contractors will be moving through the estate carrying out the work in this order:\nJanuary\nFebruary\nMarch\nButterfly Court x8\nLariat Court x8\nBeckett Court x8\nBraid Court x8\nBeckett Court x6\nBraid Court x2\nLariat Court x14\nLariat Court x4\nClove Court x 9\nThey anticipate that this work will take them up to the end of March. We will continue to liaise with Bouygues UK on this.\nWhat can affect timings?\nNo building programme can be guaranteed. The weather is a key factor in determining if the contractors can work at height on scaffolding every day. Heavy rain or wind will delay the work and we are forecast some rain and wind next week. Other factors like the availability of personnel can also change the programme timings. \nThe contractor will work hard to stick to the timings above but please be aware of the things that may cause delays.\nCommunicating with you when your balcony will be worked on\nBouygues UK will give us precise information every two weeks so that EVO can send out a notification to individual households to let you know when the work will start on your balconies. Because the precise timetable is subject to small variations, it makes sense to track the timings on a fortnightly basis so that we can share accurate information.\nWe are waiting on more information so that we can let you know whether all the balconies will have to remain out of action for the duration of the work programme or whether some balconies can come back into use in phases. \nWe expect more news on this in the next few weeks. \nQuestions?\nIf you have any questions about this work, please contact us on the dedicated email address: \nweavers@bdreside.co.uk\n\nReporting repairs \nPlease remember that you can report any repair issues via the Evo app, including emergency repairs. \n

09 January 2024 - Update\nUpdate on balconies\nAs you know, safety scaffolding has been installed to allow work to begin on the affected balconies. Bouygues UK is scheduled to begin work this week to remove the decorative brick slip panels from the balconies.\nWhat to expect during this work\nThere will be an increase in activity on the scaffolding as Bouygues UK’s contractors bring equipment and materials onto the estate and begin work. We are talking with Bouygues UK to make sure that their contractors do this work with as little disruption to you as possible. Inevitably, the nature of this essential work means there will be some disturbance and inconvenience for some people.\nTimings\nWe don’t yet know exactly when each balcony will have work done to it. The contractors still need time to arrange their work schedule and to agree the timetable for each block.\nWe do expect all the works to take at least several months to complete. We are liaising with Bouygues UK on this.\nWe hope to have more information shortly so that we can let you know whether all the balconies will have to remain out of action for the duration of the work programme or whether some balconies can come back into use in phases. \nWe expect more news on this in the next few weeks. \nQuestions?\nIf you have any questions about this work, please contact us on the dedicated email address: \nweavers@bdreside.co.uk\n\nOther news – proposed changes to services\nBefore the break, we mentioned the proposed additional improvements to services on the estate, including cleaning and grounds maintenance. We aim to implement these improvements as soon as we can in 2024, once you have had a chance to share your views and shape any changes. We'll be in touch about this shortly.\nReporting repairs \nPlease remember that you can report any repair issues via the Evo app, including emergency repairs. \n

20 December 2023 - Update\nWe mentioned in our last update that we would have some more information about what is happening with the balconies that share the same design as the balcony in Clove Court involved in the incident on 11 November.\nSafety first\nYou will have seen that the precautionary safety scaffolding has been put up around all the affected balconies. The safety scaffolding will remain until all necessary remediation work is completed.\nIn the meantime, please continue to stay off your balconies.\nInvestigations\nThe results of the investigations are almost back – Bouygues UK are waiting on some further testing of materials to be complete. Whilst we wait on that final piece of information, we now know enough to understand what remediation work is likely to be needed.\nAs you will have seen in the \nFAQs\n on our website, on the balcony where the fascia came away, the timber strips onthe base of the balcony and upon which the brick slips were fixed, had failed and as a result the panel became insecure. The investigations carried out into other balconies of a similar design are suggesting that this was caused by water damage and that it might also affect other balconies of similar design.\nTo ensure that fascias do not become detached on any other balcony, the decorative brick slips will be carefully removed and replaced with appropriate materials, using an updated fixing system that will not have the same issues.\nWhen will this work happen?\nBouygues UK will do this work in two phases:\nPhase one\nThe decorative brick fascias and the soffits on each balcony will be carefully removed first. This work will start in early January and, weather permitting, should take about 12 weeks to complete. We will share more information about the order in which this will happen in the new year. \nWe will work with Bouygues UK to keep the disruption to a minimum. \n \nPhase two\nAfter the brick slips have been removed, they will be replaced with suitable alternative materials. The details of what that will look like will be finalised with the Council’s planning team and with feedback from you as residents. \nWe will make sure that your views are heard and we’ll share more information about how you can get involved in that process in the new year.\nWill removing the decorative brick fascia affect the balconies or the interior of homes?\nThe inside of your home will not be affected. The fascias are a decorative feature of the external building design. They are not structural so removing them temporarily will not affect the balconies. \nQuestions?\nIf you have any questions about this work, please contact us on the dedicated email address: \nweavers@bdreside.co.uk\n\nOther updates – proposed changes to services\nIn January, we will also be in touch with residents about proposed further changes to services on the estate, including cleaning and grounds maintenance. This builds on the changes B&D Reside made to the repairs service in May 2023 following feedback from residents. We aim to implement these new changes as soon as we can in 2024, once you have had a chance to share your views and shape the changes to these important services.\nPlease remember that you can report all repair issues via the Evo app, including emergency repairs and that includes over the holiday period.\nWe will be in touch again in January with more details on all the updates above. \n

13 December 2023 \nUpdate re safety scaffolding activity\nWork on the balcony investigations is progressing well, and we will be providing a further, more detailed update to all residents across Weavers Quarter before the Christmas break. \nMeanwhile, we wanted to let you know that as part of the planned, precautionary safety work you will see some activity on the safety scaffolding over the coming week while Bouygues UK carry out some additional work. \nWe have asked Bouygues UK not to start work before 8:30am each day and they will be finishing before dusk. This work will be completed by Friday 22 December. \nOur advice remains to please not use your balconies until further notice. Thank you for your cooperation and patience.\nIf you have any concerns, please drop us a line at \nweavers@bdreside.co.uk\n.

08 December 2023 Update\nIt has been a week of steady progress around the continuing investigations. \nSafety advice\n \nThe safety scaffolding is nearing completion on all balconies of the same design as the balcony in Clove Court. Our advice remains to please continue to stay away from all balconies on the estate until further notice. \nInvestigating the cause and putting it right\n \nBouygues UK is responsible for investigating and fixing the problem. They are on track to finish their investigations by mid-December. We won’t know if there is a\n \nproblem with all the balconies that share the same design until the investigations are complete. We expect to have a clearer timetable of actions from Bouygues UK before Christmas. I will stay in touch with you regularly and share the timetable with you. I am clear that no resident will be out of pocket because of this work. \nWe mentioned last week that we have also taken the precaution of getting an independent report. This is progressing. \nNext update\n \nWe will update you again next week. \nIn the meantime we will update the \nFAQs\n on our website next week to include answers to any additional questions that we have received so make sure you get in contact if you have any questions or concerns via the dedicated email address: \nweavers@bdreside.co.uk\n \nIf you have a repair to report please continue to use the EVO app. \n

01 December 2023 Update\nFollowing the update last week, there have been a number of developments we wanted to share with you. \nSafety scaffolding\n \nSafety is the first priority. I’m sure you will have seen the safety scaffolding going up across Weavers Quarter around the balconies that share the same design as the one that caused the issue on 11 November. We are getting this work done as quickly as possible. The safety scaffolding is there to reduce risk for residents and visitors in case of a similar incident. \nOur advice remains to please continue to stay away from all balconies on the estate until further notice. \nInvestigating the cause and putting it right\n \nBouygues UK is responsible for investigating and fixing the problem. L&Q is responsible for ensuring that they do. Bouygues UK has said they expect to finish their investigation by mid-December. \nWe are pressing them for details including a timetable for getting the results of the investigations. I will share this with you as soon I have it. We expect this before Christmas, but I will stay in touch with you regularly. \nWe do not know yet if this is a\n \nproblem with all the balconies that share the same design. \nWe have also taken the precaution of getting an independent report. This is already underway. \nWhat happens if the investigations conclude this is a problem across all the balconies that share this design?\n \nIf the Clove Court balcony is not the only one with this fault, then there will have to be a remedial programme in place to put the problem right on all the balconies affected. \nIf this does occur, I will let you know who will be undertaking the work and the timetable for this. I am clear that no residents will be out of pocket if this work has to happen. \nWe share the disappointment many of you will feel at the prospect of another round of remediation work at Weavers Quarter. \n We will do everything within our power to make sure the disruption is minimised and the work carried out quickly and effectively. \nNext update\n \nI will update you again next week. Can you please let us know via the email below if you would prefer to receive updates by email or by letter delivered to your door? \n In the meantime, if you have any more questions or concerns please email us at \nweavers@bdreside.co.uk\n \n

Weavers Quarter Balconies - updates

20 December 2023

B&D Reside Communications Team

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We send out regular updates about the balconies at Weavers Quarter.

If you have any questions have a look at the FAQs page or you can contact us on the dedicated email address: weavers@bdreside.co.uk