The Hearth Brigades Union (FBU) and a coalition of creating protection marketing campaign teams have despatched a letter to the mayor of London and Bromley Council chief calling for the Better London Authority and the council to forestall the construction of a tower block at the web site of the Blenheim Buying groceries Centre in Penge.
Hadley Assets Crew and Clarion Housing Crew plan to build a high-rise residential scheme to a top of 17.7 metres and just one staircase. Contemporary post-Grenfell regulation calls for structures of 18 metres and better to have two staircases.
The letter requires the GLA to direct Bromley Council to forestall building till plans meet the “best requirements of creating protection”.
It says: “The plan to build a high-rise residential block with a top of 17.7m and just one staircase dangers every other fireplace protection crisis.
“London Hearth Brigade (LFB) has already raised problems with the protection of the proposed construction. Whilst the construction’s top complies with executive’s construction rules, which states that any new residential construction greater than 18m excessive will have to have two staircases, the LFB’s nine-point objection mentioned that the verdict to cut back the block top to just 30cm underneath the edge isn’t ‘ethically justified’.
“The hearth dangers are nearly an identical as a construction this is 30cm taller and would now not meet the necessities of the rules. Evacuation at Grenfell was once seriously hindered by means of the one slim stairwell.
“Different fireplace protection issues raised by means of LFB, which come with a loss of appropriate way of get away for occupants in open plan flats and requires a 2nd evacuation carry, had been not noted by means of the developer or stay unresolved. It is a transparent breach of London Plan Coverage 2021 D12, which calls for all traits to succeed in the best requirements of fireside protection.
“In gentle of Grenfell and the continuing construction protection disaster, it’s unacceptable that Hadley Assets Crew and Clarion Housing Crew are doing the naked minimal to satisfy fireplace protection requirements.
“Permitting this construction to continue units a precedent for different builders construction homes around the nation to regard fireplace protection as an afterthought as an alternative of the highest precedence.”
In addition to the FBU, otyher signatories come with Justice for Grenfell, Finish Our Cladding Scandal, Tower Blocks UK, UK Cladding Motion, tenants’ unions Acorn and the London Renters’ Union.
Hearth Brigades Union normal secretary Steve Wright mentioned: “That is an try to lower corners and get across the construction protection rules offered to steer clear of a repeat of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
“If the advance is going forward in its present shape, citizens of this assets will handiest have one staircase which they are able to use to evacuate. This might value lives. It’s important that [London mayor] Sadiq Khan makes use of his powers to dam this try to circumvent the protection enhancements that have been offered within the wake of the Grenfell fireplace.”
Bromley Council licensed the scheme ultimate yr.
The design crew in the back of the 230-apartment scheme is Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Rolfe Judd Making plans, GIA Surveyors, The Townscape Consultancy and Steer.
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