A resident was badly injured after a neighbour’s wall collapse onto their home during renovation work.

Barote Construction was working at a property in Grange Road, Bushey, when an unsupported gable wall fell onto a neighbouring property and left the resident with a fractured sternum and collarbone.

The "serious" blunder happened during a refurbishment project in which the existing property had been reduced to a shell – with its roof, internal walls, and structural support members for both gable ends removed.  

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Temporary supports to prevent the collapse of both gable ends were not in place and the correct sequencing of works and co-ordination with the scaffolding contractor failed to take place, resulting in the collapse.

Barote Construction pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations during the incident in April last year and was fined £40,000 at St Albans Magistrates’ Court last week.

It has been given until July 2025 to pay the money.

Speaking after the hearing, Health and Safety Executive inspector Rauf Ahmed said: “This serious incident could have been avoided if the company had implemented a safe system of structural support for the gable end walls to prevent collapse.”

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