48 “recently constructed” flats in Peckham are facing demolition, with 50 new ones on the cards, after the flats were found to be riddled with faults.

The four blocks on Solomons Passage, which received planning permission in 2006, were found to have “significant flaws” – including inadequate fire protection.

Two of the blocks, at 42 and 44 Solomons Passage, are facing demolition and replacement with one larger building, while the other two at 40 and 46 Solomans Passage are pegged to be refurbished.

The poorly-constructed buildings were also suffering from leaks, water damage, poor insulation, faulty balconies, bad ventilation and poor gas and plumbing services, according to a council report.

Residents of the faulty buildings have been rehoused across the borough since 2014 but will be able to return to the buildings once work is complete.

“These issues came to light in 2013 and following more intrusive investigations in 2014,” the document read.

“The blocks are now mainly empty as most residents have been rehoused elsewhere. Because of these issues, across the Solomons Passage site, two blocks (A and D) are proposed to be refurbished to ensure they are fit for purpose, while the other two blocks (B and C) are proposed to be demolished and a new block is proposed,” the document continued.

The new part-four, part-six block to replace the demolished blocks would consist of four maisonettes and 46 flats, with a mix of one-bed, two-bed, three-bed flats and four-bed flats.

The new building would provide 14 units set at social rent levels, which are typically set between 50 and 60 per cent of market rents.

Wandle Housing Association bought the site from Greenacre Homes in 2012 after the development company went into administration in 2011, before finding the buildings were “poorly constructed” in 2013.

This meant the development was different to a “typical redevelopment scheme,” according to the report.

“Wandle bought three buildings in 2012 from the Receiver in good faith that they were of sound construction without expecting structural issues to arise,” the report read.

“As the land owner, Wandle has seen the value of its site reduce significantly due to the construction issues making the buildings uninhabitable and in need of costly works to rectify these problems.

“Also as landlord to the occupants and a registered provider, Wandle needed to rehouse residents and has already purchased additional units off-site on the private market in the borough; there is a human side to these applications with many former residents needing to be rehoused and wanting to stay in the Peckham area, and households wanting to return to the site once work is complete.”