You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
One killed and four injured after crane collapse at Swan development site
One person has died and four others have been injured following the collapse of a crane onto houses at a Swan Housing Association building site.
A 20-metre crane collapsed on the site in Bow, east London, and crashed onto two adjacent houses on neighbouring Compton Close.
The London Ambulance Service confirmed that one person died at the scene, while four were injured with two taken to hospital with head injuries.
The victim was found on the first floor of one of the houses hit by the crane and confirmed dead at the scene.
A spokesperson for Swan confirmed to Inside Housing that the site was their Watts Grove development being delivered by its Nu Living arm.
READ MORE
Graham Ellis, assistant commissioner at the London Fire Brigade, said: “A 20-meter crane collapsed onto a block of flats under development and into two terraced houses on Compton Close.
“Our urban search and rescue crews undertook a complex rescue operation and used specialist equipment to search the properties.
“Sadly one woman died at the scene. The London Ambulance Service have confirmed that two people were taken to hospital with head injuries and a further two were treated at the scene.”
A spokesperson for Swan and NU Living said: “Swan Housing Association/ NU Living is deeply saddened by an incident that has occurred at our Watts Grove development site this afternoon. Our thoughts are with those affected and their families at this difficult time.
“We would like to thank the emergency services for their swift and dedicated response and those who are supporting residents who have had to leave their homes as a safety precaution. Our staff are on site to provide support to the emergency response and the investigation.”
According to the housing association’s website, the homes were built in Swan’s modular factory, using cross-laminated timber, before being assembled onsite in buildings of up to six storeys.
The development was intended to provide 65 flats, the majority of which would be for shared ownership alongside some affordable and social homes.
Architects Waugh Thistleton’s website described it as the UK’s first mid-rise cross-laminated timber development scheme. The firm promised that the scheme would be built in 50% of the time it would take for traditional building.
Planning documents have said the site would be “served by mobile cranes of various sizes throughout the construction phase”.
