The Project

With views of iconic landmarks such as The Shard and BT Tower and boasting a mix of modern and contemporary finishes throughout, West Hampstead Square is a sought-after development for city dwellers. In 2019, a fire broke out on a balcony which spread to others in the block. Subsequent additional damage was caused by smoke and water ingress caused by the sprinkler system and from water used to extinguish the fire. At the time of the incident, London Fire Brigade praised the building for its life safety systems and robust detailing, which limited the spread of the fire.

PBC Scope

PBC was brought in by Ballymore Properties 48 hours following the fire to inspect the damage and advise upon the initial drying and site clearance processes. In total 34 residents were displaced and relocated to temporary accommodation for the duration of the works. The PBC team was then appointed to provide Contract Administration, Cost Management, Defect Diagnosis and Project Management services, coordinating the process to completion.

The Challenges

The project was undertaken in two stages, which included strip-out, survey and reinstatement. The works involved internal and external repairs to the block, coordination of snagging and the relocation of residents into apartments. Residents were relocated back to the building in three separate phases allowing tenants to re-occupy their homes from the earliest time possible whilst works continued through the building. Detailed systems of work were developed by PBC to ensure the complete separation of residents from the works. Careful programme scheduling was required to ensure that bespoke product lead times were adequately managed and to ensure residents were not moved from their temporary accommodation before their apartment was suitably ready.

Throughout the project, PBC worked closely with the client, the building’s residents and loss adjusters to ensure the process was a quick and ‘hassle free’ as possible.