Much of Golden Lane Estate is made of reinforced concrete – there is brick infill but a lot of structural concrete framing to both the flats and the podium over garages.
Keeping water out of concrete is essential if the steel reinforcing rods are not to rust inside. If they do, they expand as they rust they cause cracks. Once there are cracks more water gets into them and the rust and cracking cycle rapidly accelerates, leading eventually to structural failure. The architects knew this and provided extensive drainage., ensuring the water ran off the concrete into gullies and drains.
However the Loss Assessors find that the City of London officers charged with looking after the estate do not understand their buildings.There is water in many places at many times – large ponds of it, often for days or even weeks after rain.
The above pond appears on the podium after even light rain. This particular pond was observed three days following rain, when the surrounding area had dried out.
This small lake below appears every time there is rain and often remains for days at a time, ensuring the podium over the garages and underground access road below is soaked through.
Drains are not kept clear so the problem is widespread. The loss adjusters inspected after a summer shower and had no difficulty finding many blocked galleys and drains, some so poorly maintained they contained grass and small plants.
Meanwhile the Shakespeare public house has installed a watering system for their pot plants which is daily irrigating the concrete of Crescent House, ensuring the steel reinforcement inside the concrete is never dry.
The Loss Assessors yet again find the management and maintenance of the Golden Lane Estate by the corporation of the City of London to be wanting.
Golden Lane at Risk 
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