Disasters · Caxton Works evacuationCanning Town flat evacuation: All five blocks affected, at least 250 households displacedWritten November 2, 2026 at 7:04 PM UTCWatchTranscript0:07Families across all five Caxton Works blocks must stay out of their homes.0:11On October204 , we reported around two hundred and eleven households evacuated0:15across three buildings with emergency accommodation provided overnight.0:18Two more blocks have since come under evacuation instructions.0:21The displacement now reportedly reaches at least two hundred and fifty households.0:25Residents now face upfront hotel bills while businesses and a nursery have closed.0:29What will make these homes safe to return to?0:32And who will pay for somewhere else to live until then?0:35The original buildings are Centurion Tower, St.0:38Vincent Court, and Sovereign Tower.0:39The expansion covers Thanet Tower and Prince Court.0:42Newham Council uses Prince Court for the building, also called Prince Tower.0:46The development is known as Caxton Works or Royal Gateway.0:49The additional instructions went out on Friday evening, October30.0:53Newham's October thirty, one update confirmed that residents of those two buildings0:57had been advised to leave.0:58That doesn't tell us whether everyone has left.1:00Residents remain instructed to stay away until further notice.1:03At least two hundred and fifty means households, each potentially containing several1:06people.1:07Newham hasn't published a total for all five blocks.1:09Families may be in hotels, with relatives or elsewhere.1:13So this figure doesn't tell us how many hotel rooms are needed.1:16The first evacuation happened without notice at about three in the morning on1:19October23 , following inspections and structural engineers' reports.1:23The London Fire Brigade had alerted Newham the previous night.1:27By November2, warning posters on the towers said danger to life.1:30Residents were collecting suitcases, plants, and essentials with a removal van1:34outside.1:34Prime property management said engineers had identified an imminent risk to life1:38linked to a transfer slab, a large supporting concrete slab.1:41Reported concerns include cracking and slabs beneath the additional blocks being too1:46small and heavily overstressed.1:47The underlying engineering report hasn't been published, so the cause and repair1:51requirements are still unclear.1:52No collapse or injuries have been reported.1:54Galliard Holmes built the blocks about nine years ago.1:57Private tenants and leaseholders live there.1:59The developer says it's investigating urgently with independent structural engineers2:03and working with the other parties on next steps.2:05Newham owns the land and has sent health and safety inspectors and building experts2:09to investigate.2:09Prime manages the buildings and communicates evacuation instructions.2:13The council is working with Prime to make sure residents understand they must leave.2:17Those different responsibilities are now part of the effort to keep people safe and2:21work out what happens next.2:22A ground-floor Japanese restaurant has closed, leaving its owner and staff without2:26work or income from the business.2:27The owner says another twelve connected businesses have suffered.2:31He fears permanent shutdown if he can't obtain an insurance payout.2:34His employees have families, commitments, and mortgages, and he says they have no2:37information about when work can resume.2:39Separately, one father collecting essentials described his flat as his entire2:43investment.2:44He lives there with his wife and two young children.2:46I don't have anywhere else to go, he said.2:48Golden Sparks Nursery cared for more than eighty babies and preschool children2:52before it closed.2:53Some families have lost access to both home and childcare.2:56Others face finding replacement care at short notice, potentially taking unpaid3:00leave or paying extra.3:02Residents are being asked to pay for hotel rooms up front.3:05The overnight emergency accommodation provided during the first evacuation hasn't3:08become a guarantee of continuing free rooms.3:11Reimbursement arrangements remain unclear.3:13An insurer has declined temporary housing cover, treating the slab problem as a3:17building defect.3:18Other households cover will depend on their own policies.3:21Newham says it's trying to help the most vulnerable residents, but it doesn't3:24automatically have a duty to house everyone displaced.3:27Its support update identifies Becton Community Center as a rest center.3:31That dated information doesn't guarantee a hotel placement or confirm current3:34opening hours.3:35Housing Minister Flo Asilomi told the Commons on November2 that officials were3:39supporting Newham.3:40She said they were engaging with the developer and warranty providers to ensure they3:44responded as swiftly as possible.3:46Galliard says it recognizes residents' distress and wants a safe solution that lets3:50them return.3:51Engineers still need to determine the work required, and responsibility for3:54accommodation and business.3:56Interruption costs remains unsettled.3:58No return date has been announced.4:00Residents remain barred from living in the buildings until further notice.Read the articleStory timelineHeyDex
