Plans to repair an old Woolwich car park have been approved following concerns members of the public could be hit by falling concrete.
Greenwich Council has agreed to carry out £8 million worth of repairs to the car park on Calderwood Street but has stated that residents living in the neighbouring apartment block may have to contribute to the bill.
Council documents said the building dated back to the 1970s and required investment to keep it operational due to cracks in the concrete growing worse.
It added that moisture had rusted the steel reinforcing in the building leading it to rust and expand, popping the concrete as a result and causing pieces to fall from the structure.
Officers said: “The car park at Calderwood Street in Woolwich is circa 50 years old and the concrete is beginning to suffer from issues of water penetration causing damage that is resulting in concrete falling from the building, risking injury to the public.”
The report said that leaks had also been recorded in the building’s Sainsbury’s store and council offices.
The authority is also reportedly required to keep the building in good repair as the freeholder of the structure.
The building is occupied by two lessees, namely Calderwood Street Limited who provide the space to Sainsbury’s for spaces on the ground floor and mezzanine.
The top three floors of the building are occupied by Vista Building Limited, who have issued subleases to flat owners in the next door building for them to have their own parking spaces.
The remainder of the building is used for general pay and display parking spaces. The authority will reportedly seek to recover up to 35 per cent of the £8m bill from both of its lessees.
Officers said in their report that Vista Building Limited was entitled to recover the costs of the repairs from residents owning parking spaces in the building.
They added that residents with such spaces had been issued with notices on the planned works and estimated cost before a consultation on the scheme.
The works would see the roof of the structure being replaced as well as the floors being resurfaced.
It is estimated the repairs would prolong the lifespan of the building for up to 15 years. Other updates include new fire doors and replacement lifts.
If the repairs were not to take place, the authority said that the car park would likely have to shut and be surrounded in scaffolding to prevent falling concrete.
Concerns were also raised on the effect on Woolwich town centre due to the reduction in parking options.
The works for the building are planned to take place in summer next year and would take approximately 12 months to complete.