One Hyde Park Residents Face Decade of Disruption Despite £35m Court Victory
Wealthy residents of Britain's most expensive apartment block are confronting a decade of disruptive repairs and temporary relocations, despite securing a substantial High Court victory over widespread construction defects. The landmark ruling has exposed serious failures in the luxury Knightsbridge development that will require extensive remedial work spanning more than ten years.
Court Victory Reveals Extensive Construction Failures
Judge Nerys Jefford ruled that construction company Laing O'Rourke must pay £35.1 million to cover the cost of replacing faulty pipework and remedying additional defects at One Hyde Park. The judge described the contractor's conduct as "commercially amoral" after it placed its subsidiary into liquidation shortly before the trial and failed to attend proceedings.
The court found that One Hyde Park's chilled-water pipework had corroded because Laing O'Rourke failed to install insulation correctly, ruling the contractor in breach of contract and liable for repair costs. According to court documents, "extensive investigations of the pipework" revealed it "is subject to pervasive and very serious corrosion, with some lengths of pipework being corroded to a depth of 87 per cent."
Decade-Long Disruption for Luxury Residents
Experts told the court that the necessary remedial work could take more than a decade to complete, forcing residents to move out floor by floor as ceilings are removed in occupied flats. The extensive repairs will also mean residents lose access to premium amenities including the private cinema, spa and 21-metre "ozone" pool during the work.
The problems at One Hyde Park were first identified in 2014, just three years after the 84-flat complex opened, with residents experiencing years of water leaks and pipe corrosion. The development, a short walk from Harrods, has attracted some of the world's wealthiest buyers, including Ukrainian billionaire Rinat Akhmetov and the building's developer Nick Candy.
Uncertain Recovery Despite Legal Victory
Despite the court's decisive ruling, it remains unclear whether residents will ever recover the awarded £35.1 million, given the subsidiary's liquidation status. A spokesperson for One Hyde Park described the judgment as "a decisive victory for all the residents" but acknowledged the challenges ahead in securing payment.
Laing O'Rourke stated it had spent nearly a decade seeking an "amicable resolution," including offers of compensation and free remedial work. However, the company's actions in placing its subsidiary into liquidation before the trial have raised questions about accountability in luxury construction projects.
The development was created by brothers Christian and Nick Candy in partnership with Qatari businessman Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani. One apartment in the complex is currently on the market for £175 million, highlighting the premium nature of the affected properties.
A spokesperson for One Hyde Park emphasised their commitment to holding Laing O'Rourke accountable, stating: "We are committed to ensuring Laing O'Rourke is held fully accountable and makes full and fair payment for the construction defects it has been found responsible for."
