A gable end at Northfield Court on the border of Crookes and Walkley has fallen down. Emergency Planning have evacuated the residents (including a local councillor!) to St. Timothy's while it is made safe. There may be traffic disruption on Northfield Road this afternoon. Thoughts are with everybody effected.

:shocked: I hope nobody was hurt :shocked:

What happened?

Briefly heard something about this on the radio.

Apparently the gable end collapsed onto two cars, and they've evacuated people because they're worried that it may be "sturucturally unsafe" (you don't say!!!)

Good news is that it said nobody was injured.

:shocked: I hope nobody was hurt :shocked:
What happened?

The Town Hall internal website has just been updated to say:
A gable end wall on the flats at Northfield Court, Northfield Road, Walkley, owned by Merlin Estates, has collapsed as a result of strong winds. The roof is thought to be unsafe. There are no injuries, but some parked cars have been damaged.

22 people have been evacuated to St Timothy's Church Hall on Slinn Street. The Police have said 80 flats will be evacuated.

The Emergency Planning Team are co-ordinating the Council's response to the incident. We have two Forward Liaison Officers, one at the scene and the other currently at the Church Hall.

Merlin Estates, who built the properties (a mix of rented and owner occupied properties) and Fairways, who manage them on Merlin's behalf, are currently sourcing overnight accommodation for affected tenants. The clear-up of the site will commence tomorrow, weather conditions permitting.

It should be appearing on the public website (http://www.sheffield.gov.uk) in the next few minutes.

Went past on my way home from work this afternoon. The police had it all sealed off could not see any signs of builders at that point, I wonderd what had happend

Thankfully it seems everyone is OK and at least it didn't happen just before Xmas and New Year, which would have added to an awful situation. When I lived on Longfield Road it was always windy around there, but how can flats that were built only a year ago end up in this state when all the terraces around there have survived over 100 years.

I hope the tenants/residents will be compensated not just for the any physical damage to property or goods, but also for inconvience and stress which I'm sure will be considerable. I believe Merlin Estates are constructing those flats at the junction of Cross Lane/Lydgate Lane and are asking £185000 for a 2-bed flat, dream on....

Must admit if I had payed over 150k for one and the gable blew off, I would be demanding some quick answers from merlin

Are these flats which are high up overlooking Bolehills?

If so they must take a hell of a battering when the wind gets up. Although you would expect a modern building regulations to be able to stand up to gusts of wind.

these are the ones directly opposite the jet petrol station aren't they?

these are the ones directly opposite the jet petrol station aren't they?
Yes that is correct.

I was working in the building next door. It is the end property nearest the Bole Hills and it gets the full force of the wind. The properties are built of imitation stone, perhaps Bradstone which is fairly soft and builders are advised to use a weak mortar mix. Nuf said?

I'm not surprised at the rate they were thrown up, although saying that, they must comply with the building regs, and they are exposed to the elements up there. Its scary how quick they go up these days, one week a big hole, a couple of weeks later and there's completed houses. Another local example is the apartments at the junction of Lydgate Lane and Cross Lane.

thank goodness no one was hurt!

that is sooo scary!

I'm not surprised at the rate they were thrown up, although saying that, they must comply with the building regs, and they are exposed to the elements up there. Its scary how quick they go up these days, one week a big hole, a couple of weeks later and there's completed houses. Another local example is the apartments at the junction of Lydgate Lane and Cross Lane.

I think that is the problem with big commercial building companies.

There are some town houses which are being built on Chippinghouse road, and I have been watching them go up. There are about 6 or 8 of them and they are making a lovely job, have been at it for at least 6 months.

I think that is the problem with big commercial building companies.

Merlin Estates is not a big commercial building company.

This should not happen with old or new building methods. Heads will role over this I predict ,on the Builders side and possibly the Councils.

Absolutely disgraceful. :rant:

This should not happen with old or new building methods. Heads will role over this I predict ,on the Builders side and possibly the Councils.

Absolutely disgraceful. :rant:

Do you mean a Building Regs Inspector might have been negligent in signing off the work?

Are these flats which are high up overlooking Bolehills?

If so they must take a hell of a battering when the wind gets up. Although you would expect a modern building regulations to be able to stand up to gusts of wind.
Yes they are.

Look Leeds said it's one of the highest points in Sheffield, 1000 feet above sea level apparently, and completely exposed as all thats opposite are the Rivelin and Loxley valleys.

I spent many a childhood day up there being blown along by gusts of wind!

This should not happen with old or new building methods. Heads will role over this I predict ,on the Builders side and possibly the Councils.

Absolutely disgraceful.

Do you mean a Building Regs Inspector might have been negligent in signing off the work?

...gotta wonder if the buildings reg's bloke will be quite so lenient with signing off any tiling next time.

;)

...gotta wonder if the buildings reg's bloke will be quite so lenient with signing off any tiling next time.

;)


:hihi: :hihi: Hope not :hihi:

Then again tilings not covered by Buildings Regs ;)

Any pictures yet?

anybody see any gable straps in the video?

anybody see any gable straps in the video?

Only got a quick glimpse on the news so couldn't say either way.

Despite the exposed location this should just not happen.

just drove past, couldnt see much, will venture to get some pics tomoz

The Bole Hills are extremely windy, but there are terraced houses that have been in the same area for years and years and have stood the test of time.

:hihi: :hihi: Hope not :hihi:

Then again tilings not covered by Buildings Regs ;)

Phew! luckeee ;)

gulps and thinks "well there's always the NHBC guarantee....?"

Anyone want to rent a flat? http://www.merlinestates.co.uk/Apt_10_Northfield_Court,_S10-i4.html

Phew! luckeee ;)

The grouting is though, apparently you have to fill the crack right up :o

just drove past, couldnt see much, will venture to get some pics tomoz

I work next to them, and went for a look tonight, the damage is much worse than I thought. To see it, go down the footpath along side the bolehills, rather than going into the estate.

I wonder what this will do to the value/prices of these, which people have paid in excess of £175,000 for them!

Anyone want to rent a flat? http://www.merlinestates.co.uk/Apt_10_Northfield_Court,_S10-i4.html

I went to the house-warming party of the local councillor who's been evacuated. The views from her apartment across the Rivelin Valley (as featured in this advertisement) were simply stunning.

I see the advertisement states "All Merlin Estates properties have 10 year NHBC guarantee". Looks like some folk may be going to need that guarantee!

Anyone want to rent a flat? http://www.merlinestates.co.uk/Apt_10_Northfield_Court,_S10-i4.html

Not from them.

1 pic here.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/6227123.stm

I went to the house-warming party of the local councillor who's been evacuated. The views from her apartment across the Rivelin Valley (as featured in this advertisement) were simply stunning.

I see the advertisement states "All Merlin Estates properties have 10 year NHBC guarantee". Looks like some folk may be going to need that guarantee!



Hmmmm I think this might be a bit beyond the NHBC guarantee. I think building regs might have a serious investigation into why it ever got passed. SOme of the houses in that area are 100 years old and they are still intact.

After the 1962 hurricane Sheffield brought in it's own building reg that all new buildings had to withstand winds up to 120mph.
Is this still in force?

1 pic here.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/6227123.stm


When I looked at this picture the flats reminded me of 1960s system building throw ups. I cannot believe anyone would pay a large amount of money to live in these .. they look as if they have damp problems as well.

Anyone know when they were biuilt?

One of the damaged cars and one of the evacuees is a friend of mine. She was very shaken by it all.

It really is terrible that this can happen to a new building. It is not just the damage to the property which is a problem but the stresses and strains experienced by the owners and residents of the properties.

Not only have they had the fear of a building collapsing around them, losing their home, being displaced, having property destroyed...trying to get on and live your life.

Best wishes to all residents.

I wonder if the new homes they are building on Lydgate Lane/Cross Lane will be called "Gable End Falls" !!!!

Are these the new flats where the remaining terraced houses that the company wanted to buy were "accidentally" made unsafe by a bulldozer and had to be knocked down and the land sold to said company?

When I looked at this picture the flats reminded me of 1960s system building throw ups. I cannot believe anyone would pay a large amount of money to live in these .. they look as if they have damp problems as well.

Anyone know when they were biuilt?

They were finished last year.

My cousin worked on there when they were building the flat, he says the problem is a lot of the brick laying was done in the snow |( cold makes the cement not work as it should) and no ties were ussed to tie the gable to the roof joists.

My cousin worked on there when they were building the flat, he says the problem is a lot of the brick laying was done in the snow |( cold makes the cement not work as it should) and no ties were ussed to tie the gable to the roof joists.

Both those things could be responsible as could the 'mix' of the mortar.

It will all come out in the investigation.

This maybe another example of speed over competence. :rant:

This should not happen with old or new building methods. Heads will role over this I predict ,on the Builders side and possibly the Councils.

Absolutely disgraceful.

Do you mean a Building Regs Inspector might have been negligent in signing off the work?

...gotta wonder if the buildings reg's bloke will be quite so lenient with signing off any tiling next time.

;):hihi: :hihi: Hope not :hihi:

Then again tilings not covered by Buildings Regs ;)
Says in tonights "Star" that the developer used "independent" building inspectors not the council...

...hmmmmm.

:huh:

Says in tonights "Star" that the developer used "independent" building inspectors not the council...

...hmmmmm.

:huh:


:suspect: :suspect: :suspect: :suspect: mmmmm indeed. :suspect:

I was out walking my dog when this happened. It was pretty weird to see the wall collapse right in front of me. Not what you expect when you are having a quiet walk! Although on saying that there were some pretty weird banshee-like noises just before so i figure it must have all been connected!

Merlin are building more flats at Victoria St in the city centre. The place I work at is doing testing on them (on the concrete I think). I don't think we tested for Northfield Court though so you can't blame me...

Says in tonights "Star" that the developer used "independent" building inspectors not the council...

...hmmmmm.

:huh:

Could have been an NHBC inspector? Most private developments ask for an NHBC certificate as far as I'm aware.

http://www.nhbc.co.uk/Aboutus/Whatwedo/

Given the fluctations in the amount of building in Sheffield I wouldn't have thought it realistic for the council to hire and fire people to carry out all building inspections dependent on the amount of work being carried out at any one time.

Its interested how part of the gable has fallen here. Its the part of the wall bearing the least dead load. I would have to question how well the gable was tied back into the main building.

Aside from that, its is not Merlin Estates fault. If it passed the building regs, they cannot be solely to blame. Additionally, if Merlin commissioned a contractor to do the build, then the contractor is responsible for the build (and in some cases the design too).

Could have been an NHBC inspector? Most private developments ask for an NHBC certificate as far as I'm aware.

http://www.nhbc.co.uk/Aboutus/Whatwedo/


Yep, that's about the strength of it...

...the article did mention the NHBC scheme.