Hackney building works a ‘nightmare’ for residents
Pembury Circus, Hackney. - Credit: Archant
As pricey new flats spring up across the borough, residents have spoken of the misery the noisy construction work in Hackney is causing them.
Occupants near two construction sites said their health, sanity and happiness was being affected by work starting as early as 6.45am.
Julie Ricketts, 47, of Tolsford Road, said: “I have 60 hours a week of constant banging, shouting, drilling and swearing.
“It’s like living in a nightmare. I have had a permanent headache for months.”
Ms Ricketts’ balcony opens onto Bellway’s Pembury Circus Development, in Dalston Lane, which will provide 268 homes by April 2015 with prices starting at £279,995 for a studio and going up to £849,995 for a three-bedroom flat.
She said she has been submitting complaints to the council since November 2012, during which time her television had even been shaken off the wall and her electricity cut off.
She added: “I have lived here for six years. When I moved here there were trees and wildlife. Now I feel like I am being forced out”
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Ms Ricketts said she spoke to building contractors and her housing association, Peabody, but when no solution was found, it was suggested she could move house.
She said: “My options were triple glazing, sound proofing, partition doors and blackout curtains but then I started getting excuses from them. The excuse for fitting the triple glazing was that it would cause me disruption, which is hilarious.”
Spike Spondike, 42, of Weymouth Terrace, also said she felt forced out of her home by work to construct a four storey building including offices, restaurant space and nine flats, which Intex Properties started last March.
Ms Spondike said: “My health has definitely been affected both mentally and physically. Hammers, machines, trucks and saws regularly wake up the neighbourhood at 7am.
“I now also wake up to the entire house shaking. This goes on for the entire day.”
The women and their neighbours said they could no longer use their gardens due to resulting pollution.
A Peabody spokesman said they looked to minimise the impact on tenants but some disruption was unavoidable.
A Bellway spokesman apologised for the inconvenience and said: “We will take the matter up with the contractors who are working on our behalf on this development.”
Ms Spondike said: “I have had no response from the council. I feel helpless and find their policies useless if they aren’t enforcing them. What is the point?
“I’ve spoken to the workers personally and their only concern is ‘getting the job done’.”
She added: “A couple of months ago these guys accidentally put a hole in my neighbour’s kitchen two doors down. Who knows what could happen next?”
Intex Properties did not respond to request to comment before the Gazette went to press.
A council spokesman said: “While legislation exists to control noise emitting from construction sites, hours for noisy works are only recommendations and no laws have been broken.
“However, we expect builders to be considerate of people living nearby and the impact their noise can have on them.”
The recommended hours for noisy works are Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm and Saturday 8am to 1pm, with no work on Sundays.
