Helena Dennis, a resident of Bobbin House in Acton, West London, says her housing association Peabody dismissed her concerns about the building's safety, telling her the issue was 'too complicated' for her to understand. The 2023-built tower block is part of the Friary Park Estate development, and residents have been told they will be moved out for structural work, but not for another 18 months.
Resident's fears over structural supports
Helena, who moved into Bobbin House in 2023 after her old home on the Friary Park Estate was demolished, began researching after discovering acrow props in the bin store room and structural steel columns in the ground floor shop. She said she felt 'ignored' when asking Peabody and builder Mount Anvil about the structures, which she learned are used to support walls, ceilings, and overhead loads.
Helena told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that she is concerned about whether it is safe to remain in the building until Spring 2027, when the structural work is scheduled. Peabody and Mount Anvil have insisted the building is safe and that resident safety is their main priority.
Impact on resident's health
Helena, who has had breast cancer and surgery, said the stress has affected her sleep, with the longest period without sleep being 48 hours. She said her GP referred her to the mental health team and she also contacted MacMillan for support.
She said: "I can't sleep because of all of this because it's concerning me… I can't relax here, it's scary to be here. I want to sleep, but I'm scared to sleep. I'm on medication for all of the mental health stuff that this has caused." Helena added: "I've been more upset about living here than I have been about the cancer."
Planned works and resident concerns
Peabody and Mount Anvil say the investigations started in May 2025, following the appointment of a new structural engineer. Temporary supports have been installed while engineers carried out further investigations and planned permanent work. The companies say residents are not being charged for the work, and that the matter was referred to the Building Safety Regulator as required.
Other residents have reported collapsing sliding doors, falling balcony hinges, and floor sagging, which has been blamed on 'heavy furniture.' When decanted, residents are expected to pay rent in advance and continue paying towards communal energy usage and service charges, despite being moved out for 12 weeks. Helena said she is uncomfortable with people entering her flat while she is not there and will have to pay for storage.
A spokesperson for Peabody and Mount Anvil said: "The safety and wellbeing of residents at Friary Park is our priority. Following detailed, independent investigations, we have confirmed that additional work is needed in Bobbin House, Moru House and Silverleaf House. Our engineers have confirmed that the buildings are safe to live in, and this work will ensure they remain safe and in good condition for years to come."
