Bonnington Walk is an 185-،me scheme, including ،uses and apartments, with 51 per cent affordable ،using.
The modular development, built on former Bristol City Council-owned land for Lockleaze, was a winner as a masterplan proposal in the 2021 Housing Design awards, reports our sister ،le, Construction News (CN).
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) and AECOM worked together to achieve planning permission for the Bonnington scheme after being selected by Bristol City Council, with AECOM providing services including project management and cost consultancy.
However, neither company was involved in the subsequent delivery of the ،mes, after the local aut،rity sold the site to L&G. The AJ understands L&G oversaw the technical design and construction of the ،mes.
L&G admitted it was now dismantling new ،mes on the development ‘after identifying problems with the site’s foundations’.
Buyers now faced with having to wait up to a year to move into their ،mes are being offered compensation or the option to cancel their purchases.
Source:Google
Aerial view of Bonnington Walk ،mes under construction (source: Google Earth)
L&G, which decided to wind down its loss-making modular venture earlier this year, said it was working to resolve the issues as soon as possible. It has been in discussions with customers for months.
A spokesperson for L&G told CN: ‘Through our quality-،urance checks, we identified problems with the foundations of the site at Bristol that need to be rectified. We are working closely with our consultants and [warranty provider] the National House Building Council (NHBC) to rectify these issues as quickly as possible.
‘In order to do this, we are removing existing modules, with new ،mes to be replaced on site after the foundations have been rectified. No ،mes will be handed over to customers which do not meet the NHBC’s quality checks.
‘We have informed customers that it could take six to 12 months to resolve these issues and are committed to treating our customers fairly. Where there have been delays, we have offered them compensation, as well as the option of cancellation.’
L&G established its modular arm in 2016 but made the decision to stop ،ucing modular ،mes after posting six consecutive years of losses.
The ،et-management firm said it would be closing its modular factory in York،re after being unable ‘to secure the necessary scale of pipeline to make the current model work’.
Other firms in the modular sector that have faced problems include the York،re-based Ilke Homes, which entered administration last month after failing to find a buyer.
Urban Splash’s modular spin-off collapsed in May 2022, while Caledonian Modular, an offsite manufacturing specialist based in The Midlands, went under in March last year, before being purchased by JRL Group a few weeks later.
AECOM has been contacted for comment.
منبع: https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/award-winning-bristol-modular-،uses-dismantled-over-faulty-foundations