logo
City centre tower block to get new cladding

City centre tower block to get new cladding

Yahoo13-03-2025

An apartment block in Hull city centre is to have new cladding installed to make it safer.
Pure Block Management said it had received £2.7m from the government's Cladding Safety Scheme on behalf of the leaseholders at Kemley House in Ferensway.
The building was built in the 1980s and divided into 34 flats in 2005.
According to the company, a 2023 fire risk assessment and survey showed the cladding fell short of the latest standards. It made clear the previous cladding was not the same as that on the Grenfell Tower in London where 72 people died in a fire in 2017.
Liam Parker, director of Pure Block Management, said the "very important project" is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
He said: "Obviously the regulations around external cladding and insulation have continually evolved following the tragic events at Grenfell tower, with the focus quite rightly on ensuring fire safety is the priority.
"Following the Grenfell fire we supplied samples of the cladding on Kemley House for surveys and the building was at that time deemed not to be a risk as it was not the cladding of concern at that time."
He added the residents in the block will be able to remain in the building while the work is carried out, although there will be some noise disruption.
Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Cladding to be replaced to make building safer
New deadlines set for fixing dangerous cladding
What happened at Grenfell Tower?
Pure Block Management

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Cladding danger to take months to sort
Cladding danger to take months to sort

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

Cladding danger to take months to sort

Dozens of people who had to leave their homes at short notice after a fire inspection revealed dangerous cladding and issues with fire escapes could be out of their flats for months, an architect has said. Police, fire and council workers moved to clear Barbourne Works in Worcester on Wednesday, with 52 adults and eight children suddenly finding themselves in need of somewhere else to stay. Architect Frazer Bufton said the actual work to make the building safe would be relatively quick, but that it could take "months" to get all the arrangements in place. Management firm First Port said concerns related to defects from when the former factory was converted 20 years ago. Mr Bufton said: "In some ways, the actual work on site is probably not going to be a huge amount of time - I imagine you're talking about a few months if they can really get on with it, but it's getting everything else lined up." What would take the time was "finding a contractor, agreeing a price, getting materials sourced, getting somebody on site, he said. "It could be a considerable amount of time, I think - and also a considerable amount of cost, so that's all got to be balanced out - it's certainly going to be months." One couple Ashley Gurr and Niamh Gillen, both 25, got home from work on Wednesday to discover they had to move out. The couple had to pack what they could and went to stay with friends for the weekend, with no idea where they would go after that. Describing how they had "absolutely no warning", Mr Gurr said it had been a shock to discover they had lived there for two years, only to discover now the building was unsafe. Councillor Mel Allcott also said it came "out of the blue", but that with cladding and the fire escape routes both being an issue, the authorities "had to act". Simon Cusack, group commander at Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said issues were "essentially down to cladding" - a combination of timber cladding and an aluminium composite material, both of which were flammable. The fire service also said there were concerns about residents getting out safely, if a fire broke out. A prohibition notice placed on the building means it cannot be used for residential purposes until remedial works have taken place. Managing agent First Port, a company appointed by Resident Management Company (RMC) to run the building, said safety was the "highest priority" and it would provide support and regular updates to residents. The firm revealed the building had already been accepted on the government's Cladding Safety Scheme - a fund that addresses fire risks associated with cladding on residential buildings. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. 'No warning' over cladding evacuation, couple say Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service

Headteacher welcomes free school meal announcement
Headteacher welcomes free school meal announcement

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

Headteacher welcomes free school meal announcement

A headteacher has welcomed government plans to extend the free school meals scheme to include more children. From September 2026 all children in families receiving Universal Credit credit will be eligible regardless of their income, in a move expected to benefit more than 500,000 children. The government said the changes to free school meals would save parents £500 a year and "lift 100,000 children out of poverty". Joanna Baxendale, headteacher at Green Lane Primary School in Bradford, said: "Without free school meals, our children simply will not be able to access the curriculum, they won't be able to learn the maximum capacity, they wouldn't be able to reach their full potential." She added: "Our children come from a very deprived area and a high percentage of our children access free school meals. "We already supplement that with free breakfasts and things like that, because we recognise many of our children don't start the day with a breakfast, so they're already not ready to learn. "We all know if you've got an empty tummy, you can't concentrate. "As an adult you know that." Sue Duffy, Bradford Council's executive member for children and families, said the change to the policy was a "fantastic outcome" for children and families in the district. She also encouraged families to check if they are eligible for the scheme so as not to miss out. "Free school meals offer multiple benefits to children's health, well-being, and education, as well as positive economic impacts for families," she said. "A nutritious lunch can improve children's concentration, learning, and overall academic performance, while saving families around £500 per child each year." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Free school meals to be extended to 500,000 more children Bradford Council

Unity plea ahead of huge Eid celebrations
Unity plea ahead of huge Eid celebrations

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Yahoo

Unity plea ahead of huge Eid celebrations

Muslims in the West Midlands say this year's Eid events will offer a chance to remember people around the world who are suffering. Eid al-Adha, one of the main festivals in the Islamic calendar alongside Eid al-Fitr, will be marked in the UK between Friday and Monday. Two Eid in the Park events were expected to draw thousands of people to Birmingham's Small Heath Park and Wolverhampton's West Park on Friday - although the former will move indoors to Green Lane Mosque due to the weather. "I think it would be an understatement to say that our hearts are with people who are suffering right now," said Haniya Aadam, from the mosque. Eid al-Adha remembers the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael at God's command - although ultimately God spared him. Ms Aadam said she felt the lessons of Ibrahim were especially important at a time of conflict and division in the world. "It's that obedience that Ibrahim had to God, it's that full faith and that full trust that God was going to look after him and look after his child," she explained. "We can't ignore that. I don't think there's any Muslim here that's going to not be thinking about the Muslims thousands of miles away that are suffering. "So having that trust in God, the way that Ibrahim did, to have a happy ending, brings hope to us." About 5,000 worshippers are expected at the event in West Park, the fifth to be held, and which is organised by Jaamia Masjid Aqsa with the event starting with speeches from 10:00 BST. Sohail Khan, councillor for Tettenhall Regis and one of the organisers, echoed Ms Aadam's sentiments. "We live in a very polarised society," he said. "There's nothing better than to bring us all together under one common theme. It is Eid and it is a Muslim festival, but it's open to everybody. "They don't have to partake in the religious side of it. But that's what Eid's about. "It's about community." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Why there are two Eids and how they are celebrated Thousands expected for Eid-al-Adha celebrations In Pictures: Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Green Lane Mosque and Community Centre Jaamia Masjid Aqsa

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store