Building Safety Regulator investigating concerns over house builder’s fire safety plan

Barratt built the scheme, which consists of eight blocks of eight and 14 storeys, in 2003, and will carry out the remediation.

Although the regulator’s examination has not yet concluded, Barratt wrote to a local MP over the summer, claiming that both the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and Greenwich Council were “supportive” of its approach.

Stephen Day, a resident of Royal Artillery Quays, said he was disappointed that “Barratt sought to mislead residents and their member of parliament” with the letter.

In the letter to Abena Oppong-Asare dated 6 August, Barratt’s building safety director Simon Kirk said: “While some combustible materials will be retained in certain locations, the risk posed by these elements is sufficiently low that they do not need to be removed. The buildings will be safe.”

The letter, seen by Inside Housing, continues: “We have raised this matter in our recent conversations with both MHCLG and the Royal Borough of Greenwich, who are supportive of our approach.”

Both MHCLG and Greenwich Council told Inside Housing that they will defer to the outcome of the regulator’s examination. A Greenwich Council spokesperson said: “We want to ensure that everyone in Royal Greenwich has a safe and secure home. We are working hard to bring non-compliant private blocks up to a safe standard and will consider taking appropriate action where necessary.

“We are aware of the investigation by the BSR at Royal Artillery Quays and it will be for them to ultimately determine whether Barratt Developments’ proposed remediation plan is sufficient.”

Inside Housing understands that the government cannot interfere in decisions by the BSR as an independent regulator on individual projects and MHCLG has no role in what the BSR decides. The BSR must not provide approval if proposed building work does not comply with building regulations, including fire safety requirements.

It is also understood that ministers are aware of concerns about the length of time it is taking for remediation plans to obtain approval, and they continue to work with the BSR to monitor its timescales.

Last month deputy prime minister Angela Rayner promised to introduce a new cladding remediation plan in the autumn to “speed up the process” of remediation.

Inside Housing understands Barratt’s position is that the remediation plan has been provided by an independent fire engineer appointed by the blocks’ managing agent. Barratt did not commission the plan, although it will be carrying out the work.

Barratt stressed it did not tell Ms Oppong-Asare that government and the council supported the building safety plan. It said it supported the approach, which is remediation to PAS 9980 with approval from the BSR.

Urban Change, the block’s fire engineer, declined to comment on the correspondence between Barratt and Ms Oppong-Asare.

Ms Oppong-Asare was approached for comment.