On 15 Aug 2009 at 12:47pm Homebuyer wrote:
Does anyone know why there are cracks in the render on the printworks?
On 15 Aug 2009 at 1:37pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
Because the construction is p!ss-poor. It took much longer than scheduled because it was so badly thrown together that they had to keep fixing stuff.
It also has noisy square downpipes, and in heavy rain they make the most appalling racket! Imo, everyone in St Nicholas lane should be having their houses soundproofed at the expense of the developers.
On 15 Aug 2009 at 2:54pm rees elliot wrote:
cuz i did na build it, its cheap and shoddy work, rust coming through, its not good, just shows what over priced town land does for build quality and profit squeeze
On 15 Aug 2009 at 5:54pm No Pot Pourri wrote:
They used an insulated render system - applying render on top of insulation. I suspect that they did not follow the correct specification, as the render has parted company with the insulation and it looks like only a matter of time before it falls off. The system should have BBA or similar approval and been installed under warranty. If you are a property owner, immediately contact your warranty provider (Zurich, NHBC or whoever) and make a claim ASAP, as the stuff you can claim for is very limited after 2 years.
On 15 Aug 2009 at 6:46pm surf-ayer wrote:
I watched them do it - even the plasterers admited they were doing it wrong. Sadly I wasn't there in an official capacity...
On 15 Aug 2009 at 8:07pm Rozzer wrote:
Just imagine what Style would have done on the Phoenix site if he'd had the chance. Cheap and nasty - as his Jam Factory development in London shows.
On 15 Aug 2009 at 8:28pm Observer wrote:
I too watched the hideous erection and can add that the original renderers were released from duty and a "specialist" renderer (and team) came down from Windsor to re-do the job.
Shortly after the southern end was re-rendered, the dim quadric workmen drove a high vehicle into the underground car park and knocked part of it off!
On 15 Aug 2009 at 8:52pm fruitfly wrote:
I worked there when it was W.E.Baxters,and can remember cracks in the walls. Maybe the land is prone to subsidence?
On 15 Aug 2009 at 10:49pm Lopster wrote:
Baxters was only slightly older than the Pantworks fruitfly so perhaps a few cracks could be expected - the building is an absolut disgrace our council should be ashamed of this eyesore that has been donated to the future of Lewes by their crass idiocy - there must be something that we can do?
On 16 Aug 2009 at 10:23am Bob.T.Builder wrote:
They had so many problems on that build and the rooms are tiny - live elsewhere I say!
On 16 Aug 2009 at 11:52am Homebuyer wrote:
Can the Council make them repair the render? I am a bit confused as to what would stop the rain getting in to the building
On 16 Aug 2009 at 11:59am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
I'd imagine it's all been approved by the building inspector by now! I think you'd have to make the freeholder do it, they're usually responsible for exterior maintenance.
If there are NHBC certificates in force, you might get somewhere, but those things usually have more holes than a string vest.
They're having such trouble selling and letting those places, even with the "local" catchment area for essential workers including those as afar away as Croydon, that I wouldn't be surprised if they went bust.
On 16 Aug 2009 at 12:48pm Bob.T.Builder wrote:
The building control officer isn't likely to have seen this or s/he would have made them do it again. The NHBC inspector is unlikely to have checked very much at all in my experience so now you need to approach the builders in their 1 year rectification period or get onto NHBC. I'd employ a building surveyor to report on what the various problems are then get onto Quadric...
On 16 Aug 2009 at 8:10pm Geoff wrote:
This development had conditions. perhaps LDC should be asked if shoddy building work meets them. This building is a pile of crap, yet was promoted by officers as a wonderful architectural gem, that would enhance the town. thanks a bunch!
You could write to Cllr Peter Gardiner and ask him what he, and his best friend Lindsay 'I threaten people who challenge me' Frost, what they think of this buiulding, which has the build quality of a Spanish 1960's hotel, or a pre earthquake Turkish tower block.
They can ignore Lewes residents as much as they like, but even Printworks residents agree that the building is shoddy.
On 16 Aug 2009 at 8:59pm Spinster Of This Parish wrote:
Do you want a laugh?
Last month, the Sussex Heritage Trust awarded the "Large Scale Residential category" award to the Pantworks!!! How blind must Sussex Heritage Trust be (or maybe money was involved)?
Copied from the Sussex Heritage Trust website.....
The development incorporates a high-density mixed-use scheme comprising flats; town houses and lives work units within the tight mediaeval town centre of Lewes. The new development aims to create an interactive live-work community, incorporating 25% affordable units and a high standard of private and communal sustainable living for all
Submitted by: R H Partnership Architects, Brighton
Developers: The Raven Group, London
Contractors: Quadric Limited, East Hoathly
Project Manager/QS: R L F Hove
Structural engineer: Tulley DeAth. Forest Row, M+E John Packer Associates, Uckfield
Suppliers: Covers Timber Structures Ltd., Chichester
Affordable Housing Provider: Southern Housing Group, Horsham
On 16 Aug 2009 at 9:07pm Spinster Of This Parish wrote:
However - they are quite right about the "tight mediaeval" - it is extremely tight! So tight that a fire appliance cannot enter the lane - probably too tight for removal vans too!!!!
Memorise the names of architects, engineers etc and make a promise to yourself NEVER to use them. Personally I consider anything with their names attached as contaminated.
On 16 Aug 2009 at 9:15pm Geoff again wrote:
Just shows how thick Sussex Heriatge are, and one wonders who they represent, and what. they certainly don't represent Lewes residents, and should be very embarassed about supporting this cock up without it seems even looking at it in the flesh. Probably did what our useless Councillors did, and just looked at a DVD and some pretty photos. It would be nice if Sussex Heritage spent more time protecting the townb (like residents did when they had to explain that an overhang was missing from a map, that prevented access from Landsdowne Place) insetad of condoning badly built fire traps.
As you can tell i am fed up with this ridiculous emperors new clothes phenomenon, and would like to see some proper good modern architecture somewhere, that we could be proud of, not cardboard clad crap, that aging egos in interest groups, and the scrag end of local politics thinks is good, because a developer offered them a canape and a glass of cava at a Freemasons party. rant now ends.
On 17 Aug 2009 at 11:54am ltr wrote:
have they sorted out the drains there yet, or is rainwater still spilling out all down the Walwers lane?
LDC Planning just a bunch of cowboys, in collaboration with..a bunch of cowboys.
On 28 Aug 2009 at 12:33pm HaHaHaHa!!! wrote:
I am a plasterer and theres no excuse for bad workmanship! Next time you go in "Plain Lazy" just look up at the ceilings and beams for an example of a piss poor job !! 
!!!