Grenfell-style cladding finally being replaced at luxury high-rise
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GRENFELL-LIKE cladding encasing a luxury Bristol apartment block is finally coming off, three years after it was identified as a potential fire risk.
An inferno tore through London’s Grenfell Tower in June 2017, killing 72 people and prompting a major and ongoing inquiry.
Flammable cladding on its exterior was partly why the blaze was so destructive, and similar cladding on tower blocks around the country have since been replaced to avoid the same tragedy.
Eclipse Tower is thought to be the last remaining tower block in Bristol that has not yet replaced its cladding, and said in March that the work – planned to start this spring – had been delayed due to coronavirus.
The Post has been informed that works at the 15-storey block, which looms above Harvey Nichols at Cabot Circus, are now under way.
In a Rightmove advert last week, a one-bedroom flat there with a balcony was being marketed for £850 per month.
The marketing description stated: “Please note that this building is due to have extensive works done to replace the cladding to the exterior of the building, which will temporarily remove access to the balcony for up to 18 months. “Hence the low rental.” A spokesperson for Bristol Alliance, which owns the building, has clarified that site set-up works began in August and the re-cladding works have commenced.
Shortly after Grenfell, the landowner sent a letter to residents, asking them to make sure all electrical appliances were switched off at night.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the cladding had been found to be similar to that on Grenfell.
Bristol Alliance also owns Cabot Circus, and in turn is jointly owned by property development and investment company Hammerson and Axa Real Estate Investors.
Hammerson initially said material would be replaced early as summer 2018”. the “as
Despite this, it was not until August 2019 – more than two years post-Grenfell – that Bristol Alliance submitted a planning application to replace the cladding.
The same application also requested approval to make changes to the balconies, in line with updated building regulations.
Bristol City Council approved the application in November 2019, 10 months ago. The Post asked the landowner why it had taken two years to seek approval for the changes, but did not receive a response.
A spokesperson said safety of residents was the top priority and that a new fire alarm system had already been installed.
The planning application stated: “The proposed works have been designed to modernise the property, replacing elements to comply with the new regulations post Grenfell.
“As The Eclipse Tower is... approximately 55m above ground level, and given the safety concerns around a repeat of the Grenfell Fire in existing high rise residential buildings, the landowner wishes to bring the building up to current building regulation standards.
“It proposed to remove all noncompliant
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materials from the external envelope of the building.
“These will be replaced with materials of low combustibility or non-combustible materials.”
Parts of the balconies, including the timber decking and dividers, are also non-compliant and will be replaced.
There will be no major change to the appearance of the building once the materials are replaced, the application said.
It continued: “The proposed alterations will have a minor impact to the overall building appearance, but will have a significant impact to the fire performance and safety of the building.”
The black zinc cladding on Harvey Nichols will be removed to enable the works, the application said, but will be reinstated upon completion as it is already compliant.
However, the insulation behind the tiles will be replaced and the timber doors will be replaced with aluminium doors.
Eclipse Tower was one of eight Bristol buildings the fire service identified as having the same coating as the cladding at Grenfell.
Five had it removed and the remaining two were only partially clad in small areas.
Nationally, it was reported in July that more than 240 buildings in England are still at least part-covered similar cladding.