Property Management

River Crescent cladding remediation gathers pace

Good progress is being made on the major cladding remediation programme at River Crescent, where NG Chartered Surveyors is project managing the works alongside its ongoing management of the development through NG Block Management.

The project is being fully funded through the Cladding Safety Scheme, providing a route to address identified external wall risks and deliver a safe, fully remediated building for residents.

Following Gateway 2 approval, works began on site in April 2026, with completion currently anticipated in May 2027.

The programme is being delivered on a phased, elevation-by-elevation basis. Of the 13 planned phases, six are currently scaffolded. Demolition has been completed across these phases, with rebuilding now underway on three elevations.

Working with the realities of an existing building

One of the challenges of any major remediation scheme is that the full condition and construction of an existing building cannot always be established until elements are exposed.

Extensive intrusive investigations were undertaken by the design team and contractor before the main works commenced. However, once the existing cladding systems were fully stripped back, some differences emerged between the original construction information and the building as it was actually constructed.

This has required elements of the design to be amended following demolition and opening-up works.

NG’s role has been to coordinate closely with the design team, contractor and other stakeholders to understand what has been uncovered, agree appropriate solutions and secure the necessary approvals, while keeping the wider programme moving wherever possible.

The initial phases have provided valuable insight into the existing construction, allowing the project team to resolve design changes and refine its approach as work progresses across the remaining elevations.

Navigating Building Safety requirements

The project has also made positive progress through the Building Safety regulatory process.

Major Change applications submitted to the Building Safety Regulator have been approved within the applicable statutory approval periods.

This has enabled changes arising from the works to be dealt with through the appropriate regulatory process, while allowing the contractor to continue progressing unaffected areas of the scheme.

The benefit of an integrated NG approach

Having both NG Building Surveying and NG Block Management involved provides an important link between the technical delivery of the remediation programme and the day-to-day management of River Crescent.

NG Building Surveying provides the technical expertise and project management oversight required for a complex remediation scheme, while NG Block Management provides continuity for residents and oversees the day-to-day operation of the development.

This integrated approach means technical decisions can be considered alongside their practical implications for both the building and the people who live there.

NG continues to work closely with the Cladding Safety Scheme, Building Safety Regulator, design team, contractor and residents to support the safe and effective delivery of the works.

There remains a significant programme ahead, but the progress made so far represents an important step towards River Crescent becoming a safer, fully remediated development for its residents.