Angel Gardens project team apologises after storm damage

Developer Moda Living and its advisors have apologised after displaced aluminium panels were blown off the 33-storey tower in Manchester, and pledged that façade contractor Structal UK will continue working to strengthen the building.

A joint statement issued by the developer and Structal, along with Caddick Construction, structural engineers BuroHappold Engineering, quantity surveyors Spring & Co and architect Ryder said the parties were “working around the clock to resolve the issues and working closely with Manchester City Council to ensure that the area is safe and secure.”

Structal confirmed that technicians were carrying out checks at the Rochdale Road site in order to resolve the problem and added that work was underway to formulate a “permanent means of additional support to ensure no further displacement of panels under storm conditions.”

A spokesperson for Structal, said: “In agreement with the client, principal contractor and local authority a rolling programme of remedial works will be implemented to install these elements as soon as possible.”

The building was classified as unsafe on Sunday and three roads in the surrounding area have since remained closed over concerns for public safety.

Having carried out tests, Structal said that the panel retaining system “remains compliant.”

It added: “The structural integrity of the panel retaining system had been designed and calculated by a qualified structural engineer to British and European Standards that were specifically applied to the project specification and site location.”

A spokesperson for BuroHappold Engineering stressed that the facade had been tested to the required standard. They said: “We can confirm that the wind loading to the facades on the tower block of Angel Gardens was performance specified to comply with the current British standard and the UK National Annex, which is based on utilising a wind speed with a statistical return period of 50 years.

“The project team are currently investigating the cause of the incident and this will inform the full extent of any remedial work required to ensure the safety of the particular elements of the building.”

A spokesperson for Moda said: “We have agreed a strategy with Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and the project team and we are looking to reopen the roads and pavements around Angel Gardens next week.”