Residents given less than 24 hours to evacuate Harlow block over fire safety fears. The owners of a residential block of flats in Harlow have been issued a prohibition notice after officers from the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) found “significant fire safety concerns”. Find out more: https://bit.ly/4cwK15M #FireSafety #FireProtection #FPA
David Jones
2w
👉 former 1960s office building conversion ... 👉 investigations found that the external walls and internal compartmentation did not comply with current fire safety standards ... 👉 close to Princess Alexandra Hospital and is reportedly home to a number of hospital staff, saw a flat fire break out in 2020. At the time, it was found that smoke had spread between the apartments ... 👉 unexpected evacuation on Friday 28 June meant that affected residents were given less than 24 hours’ notice to leave their homes ... A FEW QUESTIONs: Permitted Development Rights (PDR) were first introduced in 2013, but new regulations came into force on 1 August 2020 under which the change of use from office (formerly B1) to residential (C3) has now become a very viable solution ─ but, 👉 in a largely 'developer free-for-all' where just about anyone can be a builder without a licence, is this any surprise eh?‼ 👉 what about the mandatory Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) which states that a habitable dwelling should provide a safe and healthy environment, which is free from unnecessary and avoidable hazards eh?‼ 👉 and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 eh?‼ Arnold Tarling
Mark Pratten
2w
Unsure why it has taken so long?....conversion of office to resi should up there in the "RAG" assessments for HRBs....
Great. Preventive measures are always good.
Retired (well almost)
2wI have reported significant risks within HRRB over many years (since Lakanal) on at least 6 occasions causing relocation of residents. Making people who had lived in these buildings over many years leave, left me with a feeling of despair. The same as relocation of patients in hospital wards that needed relocation due to our findings. Issuing cautionary reports on the day of survey, identifying life threatening risk is tough especially when one lacks enforcement powers. One just hopes it will save life. #fire #keepthemsafe