The architect and co-defendant, builder GPF Lewis, have both lodged defences to the claim made by Rob Burdett and his former wife Patricia, who claim that the property\u2019s construction caused them \u2018serious inconvenience, discomfort and distress\u2019.<\/p>\n
When the Burdetts put the five-bedroom property with basement swimming pool on the market in 2023, they claim estate agents estimated that faults with the property had knocked millions off its potential value.<\/p>\n
\u2018Had the property been sold free from defects, it would have been sold at a price of \u00a36.5 million,\u2019 the particulars of claim noted. \u2018However, as a result of the defects, it was sold [in 2025] at a price of \u00a33.1 million.\u2019<\/p>\n
In their defence filings, both the architecture practice and GPF Lewis denied that they were responsible for the diminution in the value of the property at 42 Parkside Gardens, which was eventually sold late last year.<\/p>\n
TPA began work on the scheme in early 2010 and construction started in 2014, with completion initially scheduled to complete by July 2015. But progress was allegedly delayed by problems with waterproofing the property.<\/p>\n
In the first half of 2016, Burdett claims that construction was delayed after \u2018multiple instances\u2019 of water leaking into the basement and garage. The claimants moved into part of the property in April 2016, but moved out again within a month, considering that even these spaces were \u2018not fit for habitation\u2019.<\/p>\n
The claimants moved back into the property on 21 June 2016, three days after Terry Pawson\u2019s practice issued a certification of practical completion.<\/p>\n
In its defence filing, TPA states: \u2018It is denied that the property was uninhabitable at the date of practical completion, since it was as a matter of fact inhabited by the claimants (of their own volition) and was occupied by the first claimant [Patricia] for several years afterwards.\u2019<\/p>\n
In the following years, the claimants say, both they and GPF Lewis had sought third parties to carry out investigations into the supposed problems with the property, but these were inconclusive.<\/p>\n
\u2018TPA continued to attend the site to inspect and to issue defects lists. As far as the claimants are aware, however, TPA did not review its design nor otherwise take any steps to rectify any defects therein,\u2019 the Burdetts aid in their claim.<\/p>\n
In December 2022, the claimants allege, independent experts agreed there were \u2018fundamental issues with the design and\/or construction of the property and that the only proper way to rectify them would be to demolish large parts of the house and rebuild them\u2019. It is a claim which both defendants deny.<\/p>\n