§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, in the light of the dissatisfaction of owners of new subsidy houses at Towerview, Bangor 121W communicated to him by the hon. Member for Down, North, he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CarterI understand that the builder is co-operating with North Down Borough Council—which has responsibilities in this matter under the private enterprise subsidy scheme and under the building regulations—and the Northern Ireland Committee of the National House-building Council, to find a solution to the problem of water penetration in houses in this development.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how often the subsidy houses at Towerview, Bangor, were inspected by the building inspectors during the period of construction; at what stage of construction during the building of the houses the visits were made; whether any of the reports indicated water penetration through the use by the builders, Castlereagh Construction Co., of defective or substandard materials and bad workmanship; and what action was taken as a result of such reports.
§ Mr. DunnEnforcement of the building regulations in respect of the Towerview housing development is the responsibility of North Down Borough Council. I am informed by the council that inspections were carried out at the housing site by its building inspectors about once a week during the course of construction of the houses. Final inspections, which were carried out prior to occupation of the houses, revealed no evidence of water penetration.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what indications were given to potential purchasers of new houses at Towerview, Bangor, about the structural defects which were later reported to the North Down Borough Council and to the National House Builders Council and the Department of the Environment.
§ Mr. CarterIt is not the responsibility of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland to advise potential purchasers of new houses about their structural condition.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied 122W that the building control function was adequately exercised with regard to subsidy dwellings built at Towerview, Bangor.
§ Mr. DunnI am informed by the North Down Borough Council that inspections of the houses were carried out by its building inspectors after the receipt of the notices required to be given by the builder under the building regulations and that the houses were regularly inspected during the construction period. I have therefore no reason to believe that the building control function was not adequately exercised.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is satisfied that the appropriate building regulations have been adhered to with regard to the subsidy houses erected at Towerview, Bangor, by Castlereagh Construction Co.
§ Mr. DunnI have now been informed by the North Down Borough Council that there is evidence of moisture penetration in some of the houses in the Towerview Development. Therefore, I cannot be satisfied that all the houses in the development meet with the standards of the Building Regulations.