Eastgate development Noticeboard

Our position hasn’t changed in terms of the future of the building. Further tests are required, and it’s likely to be some months before we get a definitive report on what happens next. It’ll then take time to understand and decide what the remediation plans will be.

The Prohibition Order remains in place, and we don’t see this being lifted for the foreseeable future. This is because our advisors continue to say the building is not safe to be occupied. However, we don’t want our residents hanging on and waiting, excluded from their home, while this process continues.

For this reason, we’ve made the decision to permanently move all tenants who were in rented homes at Eastgate. This means we can offer statutory home loss payments and disbursements to tenants. Our team will be in touch with those tenants still in temporary accommodation or living with family and friends to discuss the next steps.

We still remain committed to giving you a clear answer on what’s happening with the future of your building as soon as possible.

To help us with this, structural engineers have been carrying out further testing in January 2024.

Further tests are required, and it’s likely to be some months before we get a definitive report on what happens next.

We advised you on 17 November 2023 that, following sample testing, structural engineers found structural defects in your building.

On the strength of these findings they advised the building was not safe to be occupied.

They continued testing the concrete and quickly established it was not safe for the engineers to continue with their tests.

They emphasised the building was at an immediate risk to any residents living there and we had to ensure everybody was evacuated for their own safety. Our appointed experts needed to conclude this testing in accordance with the British Standard for testing concrete (BS EN 12504-1:2019 Testing concrete in structures).

Woking Council also emphasised the need to conclude this testing as soon as possible.

Woking Borough Council has agreed an Access Management Plan for your building. This allows us to give limited access to flats.

It’s very important everybody follows the plan. If we fail to keep to the terms of the plan, Woking Borough Council might prohibit any future access.

We’re allowing eight slots per hour between 8am and 7pm each day. However, we can only allow two people on any one floor during any hour. This includes removal companies and you must make sure they’re aware of these arrangements.

You’ll need to contact us so we can agree a time slot with you. We’ll email a confirmation of your allotted time which you will need to show the security guards when you arrive at the block.

Our email confirmation sets out the restrictions which must be followed at all times. You are responsible for ensuring your removal company is compliant with the Access Management Plan.

You can contact us to book appointments via email, eastgate.info@southernhousing.org.uk, or by phoning 0300 303 1064 or 0800 121 6060.

Thank you to all residents who attended the online meeting on 30 November 2023, which was chaired by Jane Porter, Chief Operating Officer. We also held a separate meeting for leaseholders and shared owners on 7 December.

Our team remains on hand to support you. Please get in touch with your dedicated team member from Southern Housing if you've any concerns or questions or email eastgate.info@southernhousing.org.uk 

We will look to grant additional access in exceptional circumstances, including moving out of the building permanently. However, this will need to be agreed by us beforehand. 

We will discuss removal costs with residents at the appropriate time.

We will reimburse you for reasonable additional costs such as extra travel costs and parking costs. Please keep proof of expenditure. 

We will pay £40 a night per person who stays with family and friends. We will be providing you with details around how payment to you will be made.

If breakfast and dinner isn't included in a hotel stay, we offer a daily meal allowance as follows:

Household size      Allowance   

1                        £17.00

2                        £30.00

3                        £40.00

4                        £50.00

5                        £55.00

6                        £60.00

7+                      £65.00

We will work with you to find suitable alternative accommodation and explore all the options available. We're exploring options to pay an allowance so you can find your own accommodation. We will provide an update when we have a proposal.

We’ve looked into The Marches and there was no immediate availability when we last checked.

Our assessment based on initial tests has shown your building is suffering from structural defects and is currently not safe to be occupied. The concerns are around the composition of concrete used in the construction of the building. It’s for this reason we’ve asked you to evacuate your building.

We’re unable to share a survey at present. We need to allow the structural engineers time to evaluate their findings and compile a report. We’ll discuss the conclusions with you when we have them so you’re fully informed.

We can confirm this is not RAAC related.

You can now access your home by booking a slot (for further details, see: Can I access my home to collect my possessions?). You will be able to water any plants or retrieve them.

We’ve been meeting regularly with Woking Council, the Fire & Rescue Service, Surrey Police and Network Rail and the safety of the surrounding area has been considered. The Council’s Chief Building Control Surveyor agrees with the assessment made by our structural engineers that a total collapse is very unlikely and any failure will be localised within the building.

The building has been completely secured, with 24 hour security on site. All access to the building is via a single entry point which is monitored with identification required.

The building is insured and we've made the Managing Agent and Freeholder aware of the situation.

We’re covering the cost of alternative accommodation, so you’ll still need to make sure your rent and service charges are paid. If you’re experiencing any financial difficulties then please reach out and speak to your dedicated point of contact at Southern Housing to discuss what support is available. 

All costs associated with your home will continue to be your responsibility, including electricity.

A decision regarding the future of the building hasn’t been made, yet but we’ll keep you updated on any new information.

We understand your frustration that this is happening now, when you may have been living in your home for a number of years.

As you may be aware the building was developed by Barratt Homes in 2005 and Southern Housing took over the leasehold interest in 2018.

In 2022, we reviewed the building for remediation work on the upper floors. Earlier this year we appointed structural experts to carry out a full on site assessment before the work took place. This assessment included taking physical samples of the concrete to check it was safe. When the test results were shared with us last week, we acted immediately on the findings to ensure your safety.

Yes, these issues relate to the composition of concrete used in the construction of the building and were identified through on-site testing.

Security staff have been on site since 17 November 2023 and will remain in place 24/7, protecting the building and homes for as long as the building is vacant.

We’re now very clear the building is not safe to be occupied, so we’ll work with you to find a new home.

You'll find further details in the specific set of FAQs below. We've held a separate meeting for leaseholders and shared owners and remain in contact with them about their individual circumstances.

Royal Mail have agreed to hold your post at the local delivery office in White Rose Lane, Woking. It's open for collections 8am-10am Monday-Friday, and 8am-12pm Saturday. They ask that you take along some ID that proves your Eastgate address.

You will have been allocated a dedicated team member from Southern Housing who will be your initial point of contact and there to help you.

You can also email eastgate.info@southernhousing.org.uk or call 0300 303 1064.