London Assembly orders fire safety investigation

This follows fires involving timber-framed constructions, including a fire in Colindale in 2006 and two blazes at buildings under construction in Peckham over the past couple of months. It also comes after a fire in the 14-storey Lakanal House block in Camberwell in July this year, where six people died.

Assembly members voted unanimously in favour of the motion for the committee to look at possible changes to building regulations and potential recommendations for the mayor of London and the government.

Darren Johnson, chair of the London Assembly, said: ‘The tragic deaths of six people at the Lakanal House fire last July and a series of recent blazes involving timber-framed buildings have all too graphically highlighted the vital importance of fire safety when designing and building people’s homes. 

‘An assembly probe into how such incidents might be avoided in the future is the least we can do to minimise the fire risks to Londoners.’

Navin Shah, the assembly member who seconded the motion, said: ‘A spate of recent incidents have emphasised the need for a swift review of construction methods and their impact on the fire safety of London’s buildings. 

‘We must do all we can to highlight areas where improvements can be made that may save lives in the future.’

Have your say

You must sign in to make a comment