Cladding needs to be replaced in Plymouth

A BLOCK of student flats in Plymouth is set to have combustible cladding replaced due to the fire risk, after an investigation following the Grenfell tragedy.

Planning permission is being sought for the safety work at Central Park Towers, between the rail station and Central Park, north of the city centre.

The seven-storey building offers accommodation for 204 full-time students at the university and other institutions in the city. The twin blocks, with a central link, have brick exteriors on the lower floors with cladding on the upper levels.

A report with a planning application to the city council says surveys have found the external cladding, wall insulation and other building features are combustible and need to be replaced with safer materials.

The blaze in the Grenfell Tower block in London in June, 2017, caused 72 deaths and led to a review of fire safety in high-rise buildings. Investigators found the fire spread rapidly due to the cladding, insulation and structure. In December, 2018, the use of combustible materials in new buildings higher than 18m (59ft) was banned.

The planning report to the city council from Plymouth-based consultants Bailey Partnership said the cladding on Central Park Towers was investigated by experts in January and August, 2018. It said: “The investigations found that some parts of the building were not insulated, nor was there any evidence of any fire barriers to delay the spread of fire.

“In order to address the issues with the existing facades and ensure the fire risk is reduced to an acceptable level, full planning permission is being sought for the removal of the existing cladding and installing new cladding.”