Harlow Council has approved proposals to move residents out of two flat blocks in Sycamore Field to make way for their demolition.
The difficult decision, which was made last night (15 February), due to the increasing costs of Fire Safety works and the Essex Fire Service enforcement notice served on the Council which expires in October of this year. Over £5.5m would be needed for further fire safety measures and the leaseholders who live in these blocks would be charged over £110,000. Even with these works, the blocks would never be insurable and there would be no guarantee that the blocks would pass further fire inspections.
Since December 2020, the council has implemented a range of improvements to the flat blocks following recommendations from the Fire Service. These have included improving non-recycling chutes and building new stores for recycling bins, closing the car parking under the flats, and introducing a waking watch to alert residents to any incidents and assist with evacuation. A full fire detection system throughout the building has also been installed. These improvements have cost over £300,000 with the waking watch alone continuing to run up a bill of £4,000 a week.
Further intrusive investigations of the buildings have taken place as homes have become vacant and have revealed that the external wall system doesn’t provide adequate fire protection. Investigations have also found that the issues run deeper in that most structures in the building do not have the right compartmentation to stop the spread of fire. This means the entire wall system and structure would need upgrading. The issue is further complicated by asbestos in the walls which would require removal during works. In addition, residents would need to be moved out for the works to be carried out, causing huge upheaval.
Although the works would contribute to further improving fire safety, the waking watch and closure of car parking may have to remain in place permanently.
The fire service has served an enforcement notice on the council which expires in October this year and therefore, the Cabinet approved the recommendations to move residents and to demolish the blocks.
All residents are being offered the opportunity to meet the council to discuss their individual circumstances. The moving out process will take place gradually over several months, with council tenants given the highest priority band for other council homes and receiving financial compensation. Leaseholders will be fully compensated so they can buy or rent another home. The council is also committed to supporting the private renters where we can, and those residents will receive housing advice as part of their individual meetings. Further communication will also be going out directly to residents.
Legislation is in place to financially compensate and support both council tenants and leaseholders who find themselves in this difficult situation and all tenants and leaseholders have been offered individual meetings. Further communication following the decision will be going out directly to residents.
Councillor Dan Swords, leader of Harlow Council, said:
“This has been a hugely difficult situation for the residents of these blocks to deal with and this is not a situation anyone wishes to be in. Ultimately, we must deal with the facts of the matter which are that no matter how many millions of pounds is spent, how many hundreds of thousands of pounds leaseholders are charged, these blocks would never be insurable again and would likely not pass future fire safety reviews. Therefore, we have had to take the very difficult decision to move all residents from these blocks and demolish them. However, I make a firm commitment that this council will do everything humanly possible to help and support these residents.
“When we first announced proposals to move residents out of these blocks and demolish them, I said that council tenants and leaseholders will be fully supported by the council, be protected by law and through the compensation policy that we will develop. We are now working to implement that policy and will be with those tenants and leaseholders every step of the way as the moving process begins.
“We know that this decision also affects those private renting, not just our tenants and leaseholders, and we will be working to provide what support we can by providing them with relevant housing options advice.
“I want to reassure residents that, although this decision has now been taken, the existing safety measures such as the waking watch and closure of the car park under the flats will remain in place for their safety.
“We will now begin the process of meeting individually with council tenants and leaseholders to understand their own circumstances and help them take the next steps in that process.”