Latest news with #CladdingSafetyScheme
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- 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
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
City centre tower block to get new cladding
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
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Kemley House in Hull to get new cladding
An apartment block in Hull city centre is to have new cladding installed to make it Block Management said it had received £2.7m from the government's Cladding Safety Scheme on behalf of the leaseholders at Kemley House in building was built in the 1980s and divided into 34 flats in 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 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 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.
