Court orders 1,300 glazed units to be replaced on iconic tower
5th February 2019

A High Court has ordered the owners of Manchester's iconic Beetham Tower must replace more than 1,300 ‘shadow box’ glazed panels due to a failure of structural sealant on the units.

North West Ground Rents Ltd lost the action by leaseholder Blue Manchester Limited, owner of the Manchester Hilton Hotel which takes up the first 22 floors of the tower.

Blue Manchester alleged a failure of a structural sealant on a number of shadow box units which form part of the facade of the building, and alleged remedial work done to date had not been up to standard.

The court said: "The building is in disrepair and Blue Manchester is entitled to an order for specific performance that permanent remedial works be designed and implemented within a period to be agreed or the subject or further order although the provisional view of the court is that this should be within 18 months from the judgment date."

Documents show that 1,350 of the units are affected by the serious problem’ which was first discovered in 2014 and subsequently investigated by Carillion, which built the tower.

Ground Rents must pay £250,000 in costs to Blue Manchester within 28 days, with a final costs amount to be finalised in future.