Industry news


Over 400 homeless people have died in UK in past year


the past year – more than one per day. The figures were produced by the Bureau of


A


Investigative Journalism (BIJ) in conjunction with Channel 4 News and represent the first attempt to catalogue the number of homeless people to die in a year. Ages of the deceased ranged between 18 and 94, and 69 per cent of them were men. However, the figures are likely to be an


underestimate as no organisation currently records the number of homeless deaths in Britain. An earlier investigation by the Guardian newspaper found that at least 230 deaths of homeless people were recorded by councils between 2013 and 2017. A Government spokesperson said: “We take this matter extremely seriously and are investing £1.2


n investigation has found at least 440 homeless people have died on the streets or in temporary accommodation in the UK in


billion to tackle all forms of homelessness and have set out bold plans, backed by £100m, to halve rough sleeping by 2022 and end it by 2027.” Howard Sinclair, chief executive of homeless


charity St Mungo's, said the "entirely preventable" deaths were a "national scandal". Charities have called the deaths a national disgrace and blamed soaring homelessness on austerity, expensive private rents and a lack of social housing. They called on councils to investigate every death.


HORRIFYING Deaths were caused by violence, drug overdoses, illnesses, suicide and murder, among other reasons. The average age at death was 49 for men and 53 for women, but those who died ranged from 18 to 94. Jon Sparkes, chief executive of the homelessness charity Crisis, said: “To learn of the sheer scale of


those who have lost their lives in the past year is nothing short of horrifying. This is a wake-up call to see homelessness as a national emergency.” Polly Neate, chief executive of the charity Shelter,


said: “This important investigation lays bare the true brutality of our housing crisis. Rising levels of homelessness are a national disgrace, but it is utterly unforgivable that so many homeless people are dying unnoticed and unaccounted for. “To prevent more people from having to


experience the trauma of homelessness, the government must ensure housing benefit is enough to cover the cost of rents, and urgently ramp up its efforts to build many more social homes.” The BIJ investigation has prompted the Office for


National Statistics to request access to the database to help produce their own estimates on homeless deaths, which they hope to publish later this year.


L&Q and Countryside given go ahead for huge east London scheme


Plans to build thousands of new homes on a former Ford factory site in London have been given permission by the mayor’s office despite being rejected by one of the two host councils. Plans initially submitted by L&Q and house builder Countryside for the derelict site at Beam


Park, in Dagenham, included 2,899 homes but this was raised to 3,000 houses, with 50 per cent of them being affordable housing. The scheme will also see a new rail station,


two primary schools, a nursery, community facilities, retail and open spaces provided.


Around 195 new jobs are expected to be created by the development. Barking and Dagenham Council approved the


proposals but neighbouring Havering Council rejected the scheme on the basis that the development would harm the character of the local area. The development sits within the London


Riverside Opportunity Area, which has the potential to deliver at least 26,500 new homes and 16,000 new jobs, the mayor’s office said.


Construction companies fined over asbestos work


Companies in Bristol and Manchester have been prosecuted for failing to follow safe working working practices on the removal of asbestos from buildings. A Bristol-based construction company was


sentenced for carrying out unlicensed asbestos work. Bristol Magistrates’ Court heard how, during July 2017, a project was undertaken to refurbish The Cherry Tree pub at Oldland Common, Bristol, into eight flats. T.W. Parker (Building & Groundworks) Ltd was commissioned to conduct the works. A survey of the site on 13 July found waste


materials, including asbestos insulation board, were left lying outside the building. Asbestos containing materials, which would require a licence to remove them, were also found to be present among the debris and in the building structure. An investigation by the Health and Safety


Executive (HSE) found the removal work was initiated under the control of T.W. Parker (Building & Groundworks) Ltd and was done prior to the


refurbishment survey. Mr Parker had been advised that a refurbishment survey was to be undertaken before works commenced. He failed to request information from the client with regards to the potential presence of asbestos containing materials, despite some material being marked as containing asbestos, and failed to use a licensed contractor to undertake the removal works. T.W. Parker (Building & Groundworks) Ltd of


Hicks Common Road, Winterbourne pleaded guilty to breaching Section 5, 8(1) and 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. The company was fined £7,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,264.60. In an unrelated case, a Manchester-based


businessman was prosecuted after failing to check whether asbestos was present in a building before starting major refurbishment works. Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how Mr


Whaid Ahmed did not survey his property at 1-3 Stephenson Square, Manchester for asbestos before carrying out renovations to the building between 1 April 2012 and 12 October 2017.


Following a routine inspection from a


Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector, a survey was subsequently carried out. Large amounts of asbestos, some of which was in very poor condition, was discovered on the premises, indicating that asbestos could have previously been removed without any controls in place from areas of the building already renovated. The HSE investigation found Mr Ahmed failed to


identify the risks involved, and put appropriate measures in place to prevent exposure to asbestos. Mr Ahmed has had previous enforcement action from HSE over a similar issue so was aware of his duties under the law. Mr Whaid Ahmed of Hale Barns, Altrincham


pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 5(a), 11(1)(a) and 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Mr Ahmed was given a six months prison sentence, suspended for two years, sentenced to 250 community service hours and ordered to pay costs of £5,742.14.


www.housingmmonline.co.uk | HMM November 2018 | 15


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