Oceana Boulevard repairs in Southampton face still ongoing

The issues with Oceana Boulevard remain unresolved after years of uncertainty.

While there were signs of progress with an approved planning application, talks are ongoing between the developer and freeholder over an agreement on the works.

Dr Ian Kendal, who owns a dental practice on the ground floor, said there is a lot of mistrust, disbelief, upset and anger.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I’m surprised there’s not been more anger taken out over what’s going on because for some people that’s their home that is in poor repair, they can’t sell it because they haven’t got the paperwork to back it up, nobody can get a mortgage and it’s halved in price.

“It’s an awful, awful story.”

Dr Kendal said there were problems with Oceana Boulevard from the very beginning of the building’s life.

Dr Ian Kendal, owner of Dentistry @ Oceana Boulevard. Picture: Ian Kendal

He said: “Some apartments are in such a dreadful state.

“You speak to patients, you see pictures.

“The water is leaking in left, right and centre.”

Other issues at the Briton Street site include flooding in the underground car park and lift shafts, automatic opening vents not working properly, and cracking in the external render, the dentist said.

Dr Kendal said the fear was if progress was not made, the fire service could force everyone to move out as residents experienced at blocks in nearby Ocean Village last year.

He said: “We are right on the edge.

“That means for me my business comes to an abrupt end and for everybody else they have to go and live somewhere else.

“Now, that’s no joke.”

Last month, Barratt Redrow, who built Oceana Boulevard, secured planning approval from the city council for fire safety works to replace external panels, timber decking on balconies and the automatic opening vents.

Plans also included roof repairs to ensure the building is watertight.

A separate application needs to be made to the Building Safety Regulator before work can begin.

However, parties are seemingly at loggerheads over the way forward.

Southampton Itchen MP Darren Paffey said there was a credible route to delivering a single set of works to cover the fire safety defects and wider issues.

He said Barratt Redrow had committed to meeting the full cost of the fire safety elements they are legally responsible for, as well as making an offer towards a wider package of remediation but financial liability for this additional work remained unresolved.

Southampton Itchen MP Darren Paffey. Picture: LDRS

Mr Paffey said there was a time limited window for parties to reach an agreement so a single application can be made to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).

Failure to secure this would see Barratt Redrow submit the fire safety work plans, while the wider issues residents want addressed risked being delayed.

Mr Paffey told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Leaseholders in Southampton, and up and down this country, are fed up with different parties playing the blame game rather than getting on with fixing the problems and making these homes safe and properly maintained.

“I welcome those who have made progress towards that goal, and now expect others who expect to profit from these buildings to play their full part too.”

A spokesman Freehold Managers Plc, who own the Oceana Boulevard freehold, said they were committed to ensuring the building is remediated without delay and that all base build defects are fully addressed by Barratt Redrow.

The spokesman said: “Whilst discussions with Barratt Redrow remain ongoing,  their current offer falls short of what is required.

“In its present form, it exposes homeowners at Oceana Boulevard to significant costs. This is a position we cannot support.

“We continue to engage in constructive talks with Barratt Redrow and remain committed to progressing matters as quickly as possible.

“We are seeking to ensure that the BSR application can be submitted within the required timeframes, subject to an appropriate agreement being reached with Barratt Redrow that fully addresses the defects without placing undue costs on homeowners.”

A Barratt Redrow spokeswoman said they expected to submit the BSR application this month subject to conversations with the relevant responsible parties regarding any additional works.

The spokeswoman said: “We are committed to undertaking any necessary remediation to resolve fire safety issues in the original construction of the buildings at Oceana Boulevard – at no cost to leaseholders – in line with our obligations under the developer remediation contract which we signed in 2023.

“We are currently working with our contractor on an application to the Building Safety Regulator to address life-critical fire safety issues to the external walls of the buildings.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service approached managing agent Rendall & Rittner for comment.