Leaseholders call for investigation into Ballymore following fire

The question of who should pay for the ACM remediation works at New Providence Wharf has been subject to extensive wrangling between Ballymore and residents over the past four years, with the government providing £8m in funding.

Ministers should also carry out an immediate fire risk audit of all blocks of flats and cancel plans to help fund cladding remediation works on buildings shorter than 18 metres through a leaseholder loan scheme, THJL said.

New Providence Wharf Leaseholders and Residents Association has also written to prime minister Boris Johnson and housing secretary Robert Jenrick following the fire.

It asked for “a public commitment to take personal leadership” of cladding remediation “to ensure no more lives are lost and that the safety and financial certainty of the hundreds of thousands of people affected by the cladding scandal are ensured”.

The letter added: “We are asking you make it your priority. Anything less would represent a failure to meet your obligations, to fulfil your duty to the public and to shoulder the moral obligation that rests with you.”

Mr Jenrick visited New Providence Wharf on Friday but was criticised for not meeting with residents.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “The housing secretary visited New Providence Wharf on Friday to speak to and give thanks to the fire service and other responders in person.

“On Saturday he met with the developer Ballymore and made clear he expected that the residents would be fully supported for as long as is required, and that the full remediation works would begin today without delay.

“He expressed his deep disappointment at the delays caused thus far by Ballymore.

“Given that the government had already made £8m of taxpayers’ money available to fund the remediation work, Mr Jenrick made it clear that he expected Ballymore to protect leaseholders from the costs of making their homes safe.

“We are spending £5bn to fully fund the replacement of all unsafe cladding in the highest-risk buildings and 95% of high-rise buildings identified as having ACM cladding at the beginning of 2020 have already been fully remediated or have workers on site. We expect this remediation work to be completed at pace in the coming months.”

Ballymore said it did not have anything to add to a statement issued on Friday, which said: “Thanks to the rapid and professional response of the London Fire Brigade the fire was quickly contained, with all residents evacuated from the building in a timely manner, in accordance with the building’s fire safety protocols.

“Due to the fire brigade response and to the performance of the fire safety systems on the building, the fire damage was contained to one apartment and to two balconies of apartments above.

“Although we expect most residents to return to their homes this evening, Ballymore is providing accommodation in a nearby hotel for those who require it.

“We understand how difficult and distressing today has been for our residents and we are grateful for the patience they have demonstrated. Our response team on the ground will continue to support them in any way we can.

“The cause of the fire has yet to be determined and we continue to work closely with the London Fire Brigade during their investigations.

“We can however confirm that the ACM cladding on the building did not combust and played no part in causing or facilitating the fire.

“Enabling works to remove the ACM cladding have been underway for two weeks prior to today’s incident. The works will recommence as soon as possible.”