Cladding replacement decision next week on 'high fire risk' flats

A planning application was submitted to the council to replace cladding at the Hunsaker, Hermitage, Halcyon, and Haywards buildings in Chatham Place, Alfred Street, on January 6, with a request for “urgent” approval.

Investigations have revealed the flats are at “high risk” in the event of a fire.

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One of the blocks of flats

Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Planning Applications committee will vote on the plans on Wednesday, March 3.

Planning officers have recommended the plans are approved.

Similar plans were recently submitted at the Honister and Hewitt buildings on the same street.

READ MORE: Works planned at apartment blocks to remove potentially dangerous cladding

The site is a private residential block of flats with 211 flats, formed of four buildings. Block A and B are both 10 storeys high, while blocks C & D are eight storeys high.

The basement car park at the block was temporarily closed in 2019 to allow for some urgent works to take place.

Several investigations have revealed that, due to the materials used within the façade and missing or defective fire barriers, the building is “a high risk in the case of fire”.

The site is therefore subject to a “Waking Watching” regime, which means fire marshals must patrol the blocks 24 hours a day looking for signs of fire.

The works may lead to an increase in the size of the building, if the outer insulation needs replacing, but council officers said “whatever method is undertaken, the benefits of replacing the unsafe cladding must take precedence”.

The cladding is not the aluminium-composite material that played a considerable part in the spread of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Grenfell Tower

How will the works be funded?

Government funding is being sought for the proposal to replace the external facade and timber decking on balconies.

If the funding application is unsuccessful, the flat owners will have to pay for the works.

Planning consultant Chris Keen said: “This planning application requires urgent consideration as this is a serious situation where occupiers are affected by the fire safety risk issues associated with the cladding and therefore the remediation scheme needs to be undertaken as soon as possible, subject to funding constraints.

“There are also potentially very large costs involved for the owners of the residential properties in funding and undertaking the proposed remediation scheme.

“There are strict time limits that need to be met for funding to be made available under the Building Safety Fund.

“It is therefore essential that the application for funding is successful and the time limits are met as otherwise these costs will have to be met by the owners themselves.

“Confirmation from RBC that all is well with this application is therefore required as a matter of urgency.”

If you have been affected by cladding and/or fire safety issues, please contact Tevye.markson@newsquest.co.uk if you wish to share your situation and any concerns.