Wednesday, 29 July 2026

 Gabrielle DE VIETRI (Richmond) (10:38): Private developers have started building a 36-storey private development between the public housing towers on the Flemington estate while the buildings are still full of residents. Without warning the construction started clanging and drilling from 4:30 in the morning, seven days a week, with building entrances closed off, cranes looming over bedroom windows, asbestos warnings in English only and no visible protection for residents, all while the maintenance of their own homes is being completely neglected. One of the government’s main reasons for not retrofitting the towers was that it was inappropriate for residents to be living on a construction site, but now residents are living with a construction double the height of the current buildings just metres from their windows. Why has the government now decided that it is appropriate for public housing residents to live on a construction site for the benefit of private developers but not for retrofitting their own homes?