Dear friends and neighbours,
Due to a legal ‘land licensing’ issue with the owners of White River Place, we are being temporarily prevented from continuing with the scaffold construction for a couple of weeks.
We require a licence agreement to be able to place parts of the scaffold on land owned by White River Place – specifically the stairs at the top end of Piran Place and between Piran Place and Trelawney House. This licence was due to be agreed before work started on-site, but unfortunately the owners of White River Place have expanded upon some clauses and requested a number of additional clauses. Some of which would have very wide-ranging financial consequences for THPP that have required considerable negotiation.
We’ve been working tirelessly with our solicitors and their solicitors to resolve the issues and are now (we hope) at a point where the scaffold licence can be agreed. We’ve been waiting over a week for confirmation from White River Place that they are happy with the final draft.
We are of course extremely disappointed at being in this situation, and Homes England have been made aware of the delay. Unfortunately there is no provision under the 2022 Building Safety Act that allows remedial projects like ours access to adjoining land for the purposes of erecting scaffolding, so we must negotiate access to it independently through our solicitors.
However, whilst the scaffold construction has temporarily paused for a couple of weeks, all other works continue – including electrical and fire safety integration, the mobilisation and storage of equipment and materials, and various inspections that are required both inside and outside the building.
In the coming days, all residents will receive an introductory letter from Classic Builders’ new Resident Liaison Officer about some of things we all need to do to help with the project – including adding privacy screens to windows – as well as information about how everyone can get in touch with Classic Builders to ask any questions and give any feedback.
We thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue these vital fire safety works.
And, as always, we invite leaseholders to be involved with helping to run the residents’ management company – as more hands make lighter work!
All the best,
Greg Matthews – Director
(for and on behalf of THPP Management Company Limited)