Barratt praised for footing bill on fire-risk cladding
DEVELOPERS OF a high-rise block that failed fire safety tests will pay for safety measures estimated to run into millions of pounds, including replacing its Grenfell-style cladding, the Government has said.
Barratt Developments has said it will pay for backdated and future fire safety costs to make safe the Citiscape housing complex in Croydon, south London, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said.
Housing Secretary Sajid Javid applauded the company for protecting leaseholders in the 95 flats from shouldering the costs.
But local MP Steve Reed said that, while delighted for his constituents, it was ludicrous the Government did not have a clear national plan for how to make buildings safe post-Grenfell.
Both of the connected blocks were among hundreds that failed fire tests ordered by the Government in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire, which left 71 dead last year.
In March, Citiscape residents learned they had lost a tribunal battle the previous month over who should foot the bill.
The tribunal heard the total cost of the replacement of the cladding was estimated at £2m.
Fire wardens have been monitoring the blocks full time at £4,000 a week, and by February had run up bills of £128,000 since June 26, 2017. A spokesman for Barratt Developments said: “Following the recent ruling that the costs for necessary recladding at Citiscape will fall on the individual apartment owners, many of whom were originally Barratt customers when it was built in 2002, we have decided that we will pay for the work.”
Mr Javid said the company had “done the right thing” and listened to the concerns of residents. He said: “Other building owners and housebuilders in the private sector should follow the example.”