211 households evacuated as Newham orders emergency works at Galliard towers

Newham Council has served dangerous structure notices on five blocks at a Galliard Homes development in Canning Town, after warnings that defects in the concrete transfer slabs (the thick floor plates that carry building loads down to supports) "could result in a collapse".

Around 211 households were evacuated from Centurion Tower, Sovereign Tower and St Vincent's Court overnight on 22–23 October. The council served the notices on 29 October after concluding the three buildings were "in a dangerous state".

The crisis widened on Friday. Residents of neighbouring Thanet Tower and Prince Court were also told to leave, following a further engineering assessment of the concrete transfer slab beneath the buildings.

What does the council's order require?

The notices demand immediate temporary works and risk mitigation. Newham is requiring:

• urgent structural monitoring
• a comprehensive structural appraisal and materials investigations
• a structural safety report followed by remedial works
• an independent external peer review
• access restrictions around unsafe areas, temporary protective measures and cooperation with building control inspections

The council warned that failure to formally dispute the notices or comply with their requirements could trigger further enforcement action.

Galliard is understood to be working with independent structural engineers to urgently investigate the concerns.

How did the problem surface?

The concerns centre on the transfer slabs supporting the buildings at the Royal Gateway development, also known as Caxton Works. Earlier letters to residents warned that problems "could result in a collapse".

Prime Property Management, the buildings' manager, said engineers raised concerns while reviewing structural drawings during preparation of building safety cases (the documented risk assessments required under post-Grenfell fire and structural safety law). A site inspection on 21 October confirmed those concerns, prompting investigations into the neighbouring blocks.

The development was delivered around nine years ago for a joint venture between Cathedral Group and Galliard Homes.

What does this change for residents and the developer?

For the 211-plus households, it means displacement for the duration of the investigations, with no timeline yet given for remedial works. For Galliard, it means an enforcement-backed programme of appraisal, peer review and repair — plus potential further action if the company disputes or misses the notices' requirements. The role of the transfer slabs as the single point of concern means the scope of remediation, and its cost, will not be clear until the structural safety report lands.