Gaps in the brickwork of homes being built on the Aylesbury Estate in Walworth have been filled in by Southwark Council, after they initially claimed the spaces were for children’s art.
Concerns about bricks “falling off” the new-builds were first raised by local residents two weeks ago, who published photos online which showed large white holes in the brickwork.
The council later stressed the gaps were deliberately left there for bricks designed by local kids, following a storm on social media.
Yet images circulated showed that the holes in the facade of the buildings had been filled in.
“We are glad to see that Southwark Council has taken note of residents’ concerns,” said Jerry Flynn of the 35% Campaign, which fights to ensure councils meet their minimum policy requirement of 35 per cent affordable housing on new developments.
“We always thought that that explanation [of children’s art] was unlikely. Now that they have been replaced, people can draw their own conclusions,” he added.
Credits: 35% Campaign
The 35% Campaign have launched a tongue-in-cheek brick designing competition to replace the ones they claim are falling off the new-builds.
Local residents were pleased to see that the bricks had been replaced, although they were still left with a number of doubts over the quality of the buildings.
In response to the council’s filling in of the gaps, one individual commented: “Maybe the contractors glued the kids’ bricks the wrong way around … you see there is always an explanation!”
The council has attributed its claim surrounding the art to a mistake, saying they initially thought locals were referring to the kids’ project, when it was in fact remedial work being done.
“No bricks or brick slips have fallen off. Some gaps are where brickwork is not yet complete or have been purposely removed by the contractor as they did not meet the necessary aesthetic standards required – obviously these will have been or are being replaced, said Cllr Stephanie Cryan, cabinet member for council housing and homelessness
“I can assure residents that the council will be monitoring construction and will be making sure everything is up to our high standards before we start to move people into these homes,” she added.
Consultation launched into next stage of Aylesbury Estate regeneration
The children’s art work project will still go ahead, the council has said.
Cllr Cryan, who defended the council online, previously claimed that local children had “worked hard” on their bricks and were “looking forward to seeing their designs being made a permanent feature of the home.”
A picture of a group of children with a colourful pile of decorative bricks was attached to her tweet.