Cladding on tower blocks in city are now deemed safe
NO EXTRA FUNDING NEEDED TO REPLACE PANELS
NO extra funding is needed to remove dangerous cladding from Newcastle’s social housing, it has been confirmed.
Last week the Government announced that it will fully fund the removal and replacement of unsafe cladding by councils and housing associations, estimated at £400 million, following the Grenfell Tower disaster.
However, Your Homes Newcastle – which manages council homes on behalf of Newcastle City Council – says that all of its high-rise blocks have passed industry standards, after some decorative panelling was removed last year.
An inquiry into the Grenfell fire, which killed 72 people, began on Monday.
David Langhorne, Director of Assets and Development at Your Homes Newcastle, said: “Last summer we tested all render and insulation materials used on the council’s high rise blocks and they all passed industry standard tests.
“None of the blocks had aluminium composite cladding as used at Grenfell Tower.
“Our contractor Wates took the precautionary decision to remove and replace decorative panelling to the outside of the stairwells at six blocks at Riverside Dene, as it should not have been used above 18 metres in height.
“We continue to work closely with Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and keep our customers updated on the work that we are doing.”
In January, cladding similar to the panels blamed for the Grenfell Tower fire’s lethal spread was removed from a block of student flats in Wellington Street by Liberty Living.
Last year, Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes told a House of Commons inquiry that the period after the Grenfell Tower disaster was the worst four weeks of his time in local Government.
As residents sought assurances that their homes were safe, the council had little information about properties owned by housing associations and knew next to nothing about the ones rented from private landlords.
The council also passed a motion last June calling on the Government to make funding available to retrofit sprinklers in the dozens of high-rises managed by YHN.
Tom Collins House, which makes up part of the Byker Wall, is being retrofitted with sprinklers by the Byker Community Trust.