A luxury architecture firm is set to stand trial over alleged health and safety failings after a coach driver was hit and killed by a window pane that fell 25 storeys.
Mick Ferris, 53, was crushed when a window fell from the penthouse of The Corniche, a tower block on London’s Embankment in 2018.
Mr Ferris was a driver for Clarkes Of London and had been returning to his coach, parked on the road opposite, when the glass fell at 10.40am on October 2.
At Inner London Crown Court on Friday, legal representatives for Foster + Partners, the architects responsible for The Corniche development, appeared charged with “failing to discharge a duty” under section one of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Three other companies, Lindner Prater Ltd, Wintech Ltd and St James Group Ltd, who were also involved in the development, are facing the same charge.
All four companies will go on trial at Inner London Crown Court on July 6.
They are accused of exposing people, including Mr Ferris, to a health and safety risk, specifically, “from the outward opening penthouse window vents”.
The Corniche is listed as an “exclusive riverside address” made up of 252 two, three, and four-bedroom apartments which overlook a number of London landmarks.
Designed by Foster + Partners, the company responsible for The Gherkin, properties are priced between £2.7 million and £6.25 million.
