Deal with housebuilder criticised over poor work. Issues include fire safety, dampness. Questions about oversight.
Other problems included sewage leaks, bad wiring, and bad water. Fire alarms would just randomly go off at night. It sounds awful!
A politician visited one block where the roof leaked a ton. He was shocked at the terrible construction quality. He wondered who approved these bad buildings in the first place. It’s a really serious problem. He thinks it’s awful for these people.
More concerning, the city keeps hiring this company. He believes the council messed up big time. It should have checked things better before hiring them.
Robertson is fixing these problems. This work started over a year ago now. Tenants on Grieve Crescent had to move out. Workers must remove walls to check the fire safety. Then they will fix any issues.
A city councillor felt alarmed by this situation. Officials gave the company another house contract in May. This happened without any council member oversight. The usual rules say the finance group must approve deals.
The rule applies to deals over £4 million, especially ones with problems. Another council member had talks with officials. They said the right procedures got followed. She still thinks things were handled badly.
Councillors were not told about this big contract. She believes the contract will give the council a bad reputation. Legal rules limit actions against contractors.
Another councillor added the council would look into this matter. RPH won a £32 million contract this May. They will build 140 eco-friendly homes in Greendykes. The company already did some work.
Previous selection ensured they met quality standards. Senior officers could award contracts back in 2019. Did this allow them to avoid normal council rules? Those rules say councillors had to approve large contracts.
Officials must talk to council members with sensitive issues. Contractors with poor past work might get excluded from bidding. Councillors knew about the home defects throughout 2024. They weren’t consulted on the new deal.
A councillor said she was very concerned for Greendykes. She wants high-quality council houses this time. She also thinks people would be angry. Big contracts were approved without any oversight. That should not keep happening.
Another politician thinks safety issues are vital. Contracts need review when public money is used. Council members deserve the power to check decisions. The company needs to fix these homes quickly for now.
A councillor stated residents complained about poor support. They also complained about communication from the council. They do not get enough information about their housing future. He wants new contracts to be overseen well.
The city council did not reply to requests for comments. Another councillor said work continues to fix defects. She knows this process causes tenants stress. She also appreciates their patience with all of this.
Robertson mentioned Urban Union will now deliver the homes. Urban Union is part of the Robertson Group. They are known for these kinds of projects. This all seems quite messy and unfair.