BUILDING work on Trafford House in Basildon has stopped because of concerns over health and safety.

Construction workers were sent home from the Cherrydown office block. The Health and Safety Executive has sent in investigators, but have refused to say why, until they have completed their investigation.

Earlier this year it emerged up to 100 homeless people were sheltering in the then-derelict building.

The building was also targeted by scrap metal thieves who were stripping out valuable cable. It later emerged emergency services had been banned from entering the building because of concerns about high levels of asbestos.

A spokeswoman from Basildon Council said building regulations work at Trafford House, had been taken on by a private contractor.

She said: “Building regulation inspections are being carried out by an approved private inspector at the site and therefore the council has no involvement in relation to building regulations.

“The HSE and Essex Fire and Rescue are aware of the current situation.”

Built in 1974, Trafford House used to be the administrative heart of Ford’s Basildon empire and 800 staff worked there.

In January 2011, developer Colonade secured planning permission to revamp Trafford House into 359 modern flats, shops and restaurants, but the building was put back on the market in October of that year.

It was finally sold in July 2014 to Criterion Capital.

Initial plans were rejected in August last year and a revised application was then submitted at the end of November.

Criterion Captial was contacted by the Echo, but declined to comment.