Judge orders demolition of six-storey Kettering building

The building will have to be demolished by the end of February 2024

The owner of a six-storey apartment block that is still being built has been told to demolish it.

Michigan Construction has been ordered to demolish the building in Job's Lane, Kettering, by the end of February.

The order followed a case brought by North Northamptonshire Council (NNC), which was concerned about the standard of the building work.

The council said it had been trying to work with the developer and the court case was a last resort.

After a three-day trial at Birmingham High Court, Judge Sarah Watson found that the company was in breach of planning conditions and building regulations.

She made an order compelling the developer to arrange for a specialist contractor to demolish the building as soon as practicable and before 28 February.

Michigan Construction has also been prohibited from carrying out any further work on site without planning permission.

The building has been cordoned off for more than a year

NNC was awarded costs and will be trying to recover its legal fees from the developer.

A cordon has been in place around the building since June 2022 to protect the public, and NNC said this would stay in place until after the demolition was completed.

North Northamptonshire Council said the developer had flouted building regulations

Councillor David Brackenbury, the council's executive member for growth and regeneration, said: "We have been trying to work with the developer of this site for some considerable time now and going to court was always a last resort.

"We are pleased that the court found in our favour and we will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that the developer follows the orders set out by the court."

Michigan Construction has been contacted for comment.