We moved into ‘mutant’ block of flats but it’s being DEMOLISHED…we’ve been kept in dark & don’t want to lose our homes
ESTATE agents are still showing prospective renters around a development despite it being earmarked for demolition.
Residents were left appalled on Wednesday when the council ordered the demolition of 204 homes at the Mast Quay II development in Woolwich, East London.
The two mutant blocks set for the wrecking ball broke planning permission, looked nothing like the plans and failed to deliver green spaces, Greenwich Council say.
Instead of sleek glass fronted facades, luscious green spaces and a roof garden, Royal Sail House and Sky Sail House ended up looking “like a prison” with “tiny windows” peppering it’s grey and orange cladding.
Those living in the blocks, which overlook the Thames and toward London City Airport, told The Sun the scandal has left renters, some who pay £1,700-a-month for a one bed flat, devastated.
Isiah, who lives in Sky Sail house, told The Sun: “They’ve told us it may get demolished but Hamptons are still showing people around the flats.
“There were people going round this weekend. It’s mad.
“I don’t understand how we can get to this magnitude without someone stepping in and doing something.
“I just don’t know what is going on. It’s just wrong. I’m looking at moving but we don’t really know when.”
Developer Comer Homes Group breached 26 planning conditions and allowed renters to move in, despite warnings to keep the flats empty while an investigation was ongoing.
The site, which only opened last year, only has around 70 of the 204 units – where a one bed flat can cost £1,700-a-month – occupied.
Ellie, 30, a GP who lives in older neighbouring Lower Mast building, which will not be demolished, said she wouldn’t care if the blocks were knocked down.
She told The Sun: “We’ve watched it go up bit by bit, it looks nothing like the photos, we were all really surprised of how different it looks.
“It looks quite cheaply built to be honest compared to the original.
“I don’t think it’s right if you’re undermining the whole process of planning permission – there’s a reason why it’s there.
“If they get away with it then anyone can get away with it and it will open the doors for developers to do whatever they want.
“I don’t think it will go to demolition. I think the management company will make changes and try to reach middle ground.
“I think demolition is really an end point I don’t think it will get to. I think the management will come into an agreement. They can be quite sneaky.
“I’m not worried, I think they’re the ugliest thing. I don’t really enjoy living next to it.
“To be honest I was really excited originally, if you looked on the website on what their plans were it looked amazing. I thought it would make the area nice and appealing
“But when I see this it just looks like a prison.
She added: “It makes the old, dated looking blocks make good in comparison. The windows are tiny. It should have all been glass.
“It’s not meant to look like this. Interesting to see how it all comes out. I hope the council stick to their guns and don’t back down.
“So any developer can submit a planning application, promise all these things but not do that, cut costs and make it cheaply.
“I think it’s really really important to stick to the process of things being done correctly. The local response has been quite mixed. They’re backing the council because they hate it.”
FALLEN FLAT
Me Escali has lived in Lower Mast house, which is not impacted by the demolition order, since 2013.
He told The Sun of the demolition: “I read it in the news that it was planned and what was built in 2012 was not the same.
“Demolishing it is a hard decision, they can’t fix the problems? That’s better than demolishing.
“In London we need more housing, not demolishing them.”
Discussing the possibility of living next to a demolition site, he added: “We had two or three years when they were building that were affecting everyone.
“They closed the embankment by the river, then all the bikes were cutting through. That was affecting us a bit.
“The problem for us was that everything was closed, for the kids there was no safety. And here, there is nothing for them.”
He said he felt sorry for the renters, adding: “I don’t want them to demolish this, if there are problems, sure, but they should try.”
One homeowner of five months told The Sun: “It was surprising for me, if you were in my shoes you would be shocked.
“To demolish a new tower ruins plans for everyone. I hope they find a solution, I know they have breached 26 points, that’s a lot to redo.
“Even if it gets demolished or not, I am going to look for another place.”
One 27-year-old international student told The Sun they only learned of the fate of their block when they saw it on the news.
She said: “It’s very sad if residents have to move out. They were promised something and it hasn’t happened.
“We have not been given a timeframe. I think they’re trying to fight it.
“I think it would be really nice if the changes could be changed, if they can put in green spaces and the rooftop terrace would be wonderful.
Sharaddha Qureshi, who has lived next door in Lower Mast House for three months, had no idea the site was set to be torn down until approached by The Sun on Thursday.
She is scared of the pollution demolition will bring.
The 37-year-old said: “It’s a huge, huge building, there will be a lot of pollution in the air.
“It’s going to spoil the water. I am not keen. It’s going to be bad for a long long time.
“It’s such a nice building, it gives a posh feeling to the area.
“It is newly made, the quality is better.”
BLOCK HEADS
One Italian resident said she has been left worrying about her future following the demolition news.
She said: “I cannot say anything bad in terms of the quality of the apartments.
“For me the problem will be finding a new place because it’s not easy.
“There are bidding wars, living in London, it’s not easy, especially flats of this calibre becuase they are actually very nice apartments inside.
“I have lived in Sky Sail House for more than one year, I pay £1,760 for a one bedroom. It’s a lot of money, when I got the letter the other day, it was very concerning.
“I made a bit of an investment as I bought some furniture. If I have to change flat, I have to pay for removal.
“First you need to find a new place, the market will be more expensive, but then you don’t have any certainty or when it is going to happen. If we need to go, I hope they are going to give us a bit of time.
“It wouldn’t be nice to be put out of a house, there are a lot of people living here.”
Neighbour Isabelle White, 33, told the Guardian: “I only just found out my flat’s going to be pulled down.
“It seemed too good to be true and now obviously it is. No one wants to lose their home.
“I get no direct sun, because of the way they have positioned the building. My flat is so dark.”
‘WASTE OF MONEY’
Greenwich Council said: “The Royal Borough of Greenwich has taken the decision, as the local planning authority, to progress with enforcement action against the Comer Homes Group’s Mast Quay Phase II development of two residential towers, one of which is stepped, with 23, 11, nine and six storeys, located on Woolwich Church Street, London SE18.
“The Council’s extensive investigation over the last year has concluded that the completed Mast Quay Phase II built-to rent-development has been built without planning permission and is therefore unlawful because it is so substantially different to the scheme that was originally permitted by the planning permission given in 2012.”
Comer said it was “surprised and extremely disappointed by the decision” and claimed the public statements released are “inaccurate and misrepresent the position and our actions”.
They also said they are “prioritising the interests of residents” and will continue to “do all that we can to assist them to remain secure in their homes while we respond to the council’s actions”.
A statement added: “We will be appealing against the enforcement notice and look forward to robustly correcting the inaccuracies and addressing the council’s concerns.
“We have over many months sought to engage constructively with the council, and not withstanding these disproportionate actions, remain willing to do so.
“We are justly proud of our track record of delivering high quality developments across the United Kingdom.
“In our view, the council’s concerns regarding Mast Quay Phase II can be addressed through following normal process and engaging with us on a retrospective planning application.
“We encourage the Council to meet with us and agree a way forward which will avoid wasting significant sums of taxpayers’ money on litigation when sensible solutions to their concerns are available.”