Fire tragedy contractor building at Park Wood
The contractor at the centre of the controversy surrounding the Grenfell Tower disaster is in charge of the final phase of Park Wood’s multimillion pound regeneration.
Golding Homes awarded Rydon the £9.3m contract to build 56 homes and two commercial units at Wallis Fields, off Wallis Avenue, last July.
The work is the last of three phases which will deliver 200 homes as well as shops and new businesses and is costing £50m.
Rydon’s share includes 38 flats and 18 houses which will be built “to a modern design inspired by the Kent architecture, drawing inspiration from the traditional housing of the region including cladding, weatherboarding and render with a mix of flat and pitched roofs”.
Golding Homes confirmed the flammable US-made Reynobond PE cladding – which is suspected of accelerating the spread of the devastating fire which killed at least 79 people – has not been used in the project and does not feature in any of its properties.
A spokesman for the housing association said: “Rydon is a very experienced contractor and is performing well.
“We have no reason to suspend the contract. This is the only contract we currently have with Rydon.
“The cause of the fire at Grenfell Tower is not yet known. We will review our safety arrangements in the light of any recommendations made.”
She also confirmed the company operates a stay-put policy as fire service guidance, meaning tenants are asked to stay in their flats if there is a blaze.
None of the buildings at Wallis Fields is over 18m, with aluminium composite material cladding.
They therefore do not fit the Department for Communities and Local Government’s criteria for urgent safety checks.
On its website, Rydon – which has also expressed an interest in building homes on land off Albion Road, Marden – says: “Wallis Fields will be a much safer and more attractive environment.” Rydon – which did not respond to requests for a comment – carried out the Grenfell Tower work for £8.6m, subcontracting the cladding aspect to Paddock Wood-registered Harley Facades for £2.6m.
Grenfell Tower, in Kensington, went up in flames in the early hours of last Monday.
While the cause of the fire is unknown it is believed to have started when a fridge exploded in a fourth-floor flat before rapidly engulfing the 24-storey block.