News / Housing
‘We’ve not got one room that hasn’t been damaged’
Building works at a development site have caused significant damage to homes with cracks, dropped floors and popped tiles, residents say.
Homes along Lacey Road in Stockwood have been seeing faults appear since work started at the site of the former Greville Elderly Persons Home, where 26 houses are being built.
Nicola Beaumont-Dolphin, who recently returned from her honeymoon, says she got back to find large cracks on the driveway, her kitchen tiles wobbling, and her sitting room and hallway floors dropped by more than an inch.
“The whole build’s just been a nightmare,” she said, adding it had caused her and her husband stress “the whole time we were on our honeymoon. When we came home we were just shocked.”
The work, which has been going on for around a year, has had even more of an impact at Paul and Caron Barry’s house.
“We’ve not got one room that hasn’t got damage in,” Paul said. “The wife said she’s got to the stage where she doesn’t like her house anymore.
“We have worked hard; paid the mortgage off. We have done everything people should do and now it’s being destroyed and there’s nothing we can do about it.”
The Barry’s house has cracks both inside and on exterior walls, multiple popped drywall nails, sunk outside brick paving, popped bathroom tiles and dropped door frames that prevent doors from properly closing.
Nicola Beaumont-Dolphin returned from her honeymoon to find cracks in her drive and floors dropped by more than an inch
Bristol City Council, which operates the site, and construction firm Stepnell have both made verbal promises to repair any damage done, with Stepnell previously making repairs to Nicola’s drive before the most recent cracks appeared.
But Paul worries how long that would take and isn’t keen on his house being turned into a building site.
The site is believed to have caused so much damage because workers have been drilling into a solid layer of stone. The rock has been forced sideways, making the houses on the street above move.
Following complaints, Stepnell agreed to cease external work until getting further instruction from the council.
The Barrys and Nicola feel they have been poorly treated and ignored by the council, with some complaints submitted more than a year ago not yet responded to.
Caron said: “This whole experience has been distressing, disappointing and handled in the most unprofessional way. We are now left living with and amongst these awful conditions.
“The council needs to take account for their actions.”
A surveyor from the council was sent out to inspect houses after residents first reported damage and reported back that the cracks in the Carons’ house were likely caused by wind. It’s an idea they consider ridiculous.
The residents feel their concerns have been ignored
“It’s been horrific,” Nicola said. “The worst thing is not the damage to the properties. It’s being made to feel as though I’m the guilty party when I’m the innocent party and yet I’m being made to feel like it’s all my fault.
“It’s had a big impact on everyone who lives here. It’s just been really upsetting.”
Councillor Jonathan Hucker has backed locals in their complaints.
“The council’s handling of this project has been completely disastrous,” he said.
“Since construction started in February of last year, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. Residents have been subjected to intolerable levels of disruption. Quite frankly, their lives have been made complete hell by the actions of Bristol City Council.
“Communication and engagement from the council has been completely inadequate. The council’s behaviour has been a combination of arrogance, ignorance and incompetence. Their performance has been completely shameful.”
Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said: ““We are aware of concerns relating to this site and we are sorry for the impact the development is having on local residents due to the close proximity of the works to their homes.
“To fully understand the impacts of the works, the council is commissioning a comprehensive and independent survey of the homes within the immediate area of the works. Where any remediation and fixes are identified through this survey, we will work with the affected residents to ensure these fully addressed.
“The new homes being built on this site will help to address the city’s housing crisis and as with all of our housing developments we want to ensure we are working with the local community throughout the construction and beyond.”
Stepnell has been approached for comment.
All photos: Molly Pipe
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