St Faith’s Road
Lambeth and Southwark Housing Association
Podium was engaged as both Employer’s Agent and Party Wall Surveyor for a construction project at St Faith’s Road, involving the demolition of an old Victorian house and the construction of a new block of nine flats. This £1.4 million project was executed under a JCT Design and Build Contract 2011, with the Contractor assuming design responsibility.
The scope of work included constructing the new building, rebuilding a boundary wall between properties on St Faith’s Road, and installing piled foundations, necessitating the issuance of Party Wall notices. The Adjoining Owner (AO) dissented and appointed their own surveyor, leading to a detailed Schedule of Condition (SoC) being published along with a detailed Award. Construction proceeded with Podium Surveying overseeing compliance with party wall requirements.
Upon completion, our post-construction inspection revealed several issues. Firstly, cracks appeared in the AO’s living room, requiring repairs to be completed at the Building Owner’s (BO) expense. It was determined that the damage was caused by the removal of foundation underpinning and percussion piling during construction work. Repairs included making good the walls and ceiling in the affected area. During this process, two lilac trees in the AO’s garden showed signs of dying back.
Investigation revealed root damage due to trench foundation work for the new boundary wall. To resolve this, the BO replaced the trees with similar specimens.
Additionally, a previously dry cellar became damp, and the ground near the boundary line turned boggy. Analysis pointed to improper drainage behind the boundary wall. Corrective measures included installing a new land drain to manage water build-up and restoring the area’s drainage functionality.
The St Faith’s Road project highlights the importance of diligent supervision and proactive response to construction-related issues. Despite the challenges, Podium Surveying’s role as both Employer’s Agent and Party Wall Surveyor ensured that corrective actions were taken, resolving the issues with the AO and maintaining project integrity.