"Even multimillionaires can't escape Britain's cowboy builders, it seems. Last week, residents of One Hyde Park, the UK's most expensive flats, won a 35m court case against the contractor that built their homes. The high court ordered the construction company Laing O'Rourke to fix defective pipework that was discovered to be causing problems in 2014, only three years after the luxury development was completed."
"At the other end of the economy, tens of thousands of families are facing damp and mould issues also caused by botched building works. A National Audit Office investigation revealed in October last year that a staggering 98% of external insulation fitted under the previous government's home-improvement schemes was installed so ineptly that it will have to be repaired or replaced. Across the UK, an epidemic of similar stories reveals a brewing crisis in construction quality."
"We are the dinosaurs of construction in Europe, Barbara Jones, a veteran builder with 45 years of experience on construction sites, tells me. I work with people from lots of different countries and they are laughing at us. They think we're ridiculous, that we don't value skill. A tradesperson is nothing here. Whereas in Germany, it's a very respected job."
Construction quality across the UK has deteriorated, producing defects from luxury flats to social housing. Residents of One Hyde Park won a 35m court judgment forcing Laing O'Rourke to repair defective pipework discovered three years after completion. Tens of thousands of families face damp and mould caused by botched works. A National Audit Office found 98% of external insulation fitted under previous home-improvement schemes requires repair or replacement. New-build towers and major developers report pervasive defects and costly remediation. Contributing factors include declining vocational training, devalued trades, and low industry skill standards.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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