Ronan Point

Ronan Point
Ronan Point, following the gas explosion
Map
General information
StatusDemolished
TypeTower block
LocationCanning Town
Town or cityLondon
Coordinates51°30′46″N 0°01′17″E / 51.5129°N 0.0215°E / 51.5129; 0.0215
Construction started1966
Completed1968
Demolished1986
OwnerNewham Council
Technical details
Structural systemLarge panel system
MaterialPrefabricated pre-cast concrete
Floor count22
Design and construction
Main contractorTaylor Woodrow Anglian
Known forPartial collapse following gas explosion

Ronan Point was a 22-storey tower block in Canning Town in Newham, East London, that partially collapsed on 16 May 1968, only two months after it opened. A gas explosion blew out some load-bearing walls, causing the collapse of one entire corner of the building; four people died and 17 were injured. The nature of the failure (caused by both poor design and poor construction) led to a loss of public confidence in high-rise residential buildings, and major changes in British building regulations resulted.