Two storey rooftop developments on blocks – government consultation on leaseholder impact?

“…to add rooftop flats without providing proof that the structure can cope with the extra weight”

Wouldn’t Building Control require this proof? Planning permission is just aesthetics & whether in keeping with the environment. Building Control should be asking for engineering calculations or have I missed something?

New flats cannot be sold without showing that Building Control requirements have been met and this will include proof that the existing structure can withstand the additional load needing investigation by the project engineer of the load bearing capacity of the existing foundations and walls etc.

Reply to the comment left by Wyn Burgess at 09/03/2024 – 10:44
My understanding is that Council’s have outsourced Building Control and that standards have dropped to zero. Hence, the tragedy of Grenfell. I personally know a luxury block of flats overlooking the Thames which was built without any fire compartmentalisation screens between flats and eventually, after a long struggle by the leaseholders, had to be refurbished with fire screens at huge cost. So, I have very little faith in Building Control.

Welcome to the world of the Cladding Scandal. Ever since Grenfell, the scale of the problem has become ever more apparent.
The government solution is to fund some cladding works, in some flat types, for some leaseholders.
As the saying goes, you can’t have a a “half-safe” – so even when the cladding is fixed, other dangers remain. Compromised, or missing, compartmentation/fire break, other (highly) combustible materials, stacked balconies etc etc. all mean the building remains potentially unsafe and/or the leaseholders pay for the failings of others such as Building Control, Manufacturers, Developers, etc
Michael Gove said: “It is neither fair nor decent that innocent leaseholders should be landed with bills they cannot afford to fix problems they did not cause” – and yet that is exactly what the legislation delivers.

Reply to the comment left by Shining Wit at 09/03/2024 – 19:10
Yes, to me the privatisation of Building Control was madness, private BC providers were onto a winner until Grenfell. The real issue is that Council or Private BC providers have little liability unless there is death or injury so are not as thorough as they should be in ensuring BC standards are met.