Homes evacuated after collapse near development site

Residents remain unable to return home days after the frontage of two houses collapsed in south-east London, with one resident saying he had raised concerns about heavy vibration from nearby development works and requested that work be paused.

The partial collapse happened on Woodland Terrace in Charlton at about 18:30 BST on Saturday.

The terrace sits between the former Morris Walk and Maryon Grove estates, which are being redeveloped as part of Greenwich Council's Woolwich Estates regeneration project.

Lovell, the developer carrying out the work, said the cause of the collapse had not been established and it would be inappropriate to speculate while investigations continued.

London Fire Brigade said the fascia of a wall fell from roof level.

There were no reports of any injuries, but a number of properties were evacuated and residents are unable to return until a structural survey has been completed on the properties.

Greenwich Council said it was in touch with about 20 households affected by the incident and had placed seven in temporary accommodation, while others made their own arrangements.

The council said it was working to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Ben Carew, who owns a ground-floor flat on Woodland Terrace and has lived there since 2013, said since 2019 he repeatedly raised concerns about the condition of the properties.

Emails seen by the BBC show Carew contacted Lovell on 21 July after noticing cracks opening up in his home during periods of heavy vibration.

He asked for work to be paused while the issue was assessed.

The following day, he contacted Greenwich Council's planning enforcement team to report concerns about vibration, cracking and parts of buildings coming away.

He also requested Lovell's vibration monitoring data and asked whether there was an allowable limit, but said he never received the information.

Carew said he noticed new cracks appearing in a neighbouring property in the days before the collapse.

He said: "I don't know what caused this. That is for the engineers. What I know is what I reported, when I reported it, and that nobody came."

A Lovell spokesperson said they recognised residents had "a number of questions and concerns", and that the company's priority was to provide clear and accurate information.

"Previous concerns about vibration raised with the site team were reviewed at the time. The monitoring did not show any readings above the permitted limits set for the work."

Lovell said it attended a residents' meeting with Greenwich Council on Tuesday and had commissioned an independent structural engineer.

The company added that further information was being gathered while work on the site was paused.

Carew was not at home when the collapse happened. He said a neighbour sent him photographs of the damage while he was in Greenwich Park.

His insurer has placed him in a hotel, while other residents have either been accommodated by the council or are staying with friends and family.

He added: "I think that when that type of thing is being reported, appropriate assessments and measures should be put in place before putting life at risk.

"I would strongly suggest that, if they are able to safely access the buildings, taking the time to carry out a new risk assessment would be the most appropriate way forward."

Another resident, Helen Jakeways, was at home: "I was at the back of the house and didn't think much of it because I thought it might be one of the cranes on the development site had gone over.

"I thought maybe I better go and check that out. And that's how I discovered it, but it was just like a big crash."

She praised the emergency response, saying police and firefighters had worked hard in difficult circumstances to keep residents safe.

Carew added he was concerned activity resumed at the site on Monday morning before stopping again after he spoke to site managers.

Lovell said activity had been limited to initial set-up work, not substantive construction work, and this stopped at approximately 09:00.

St Thomas's Church opened its doors on Saturday night to provide emergency shelter for residents forced from their homes.

Church warden Jim Kinsella said residents, emergency workers and volunteers gathered there throughout the evening.

"We were making teas and coffees and everything, not just for the people but for the emergency services as well, until about 23:00," he said.

"Then we had about nine or ten who were sleeping in the church hall.

"I got a phone call at two o'clock in the morning to say there's another six people who want to come in and stay in the church, so I had to come back down."

Sheila Kinsella said the community had rallied round those affected, with donations of clothing and other essentials arriving at the church.

A Greenwich Council spokesperson said it was "prioritising the safety and welfare of those affected" by the partial collapse.

"The council acted over the weekend to remove immediate danger at the site. Council officers are providing support to affected residents to address their immediate and longer-term accommodation needs.

"We remain committed to the protection and support of local residents, including understanding the circumstances behind this incident."

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