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Housing association evacuates Belfast block over safety fears
A housing association is evacuating a block of flats in the Northern Ireland capital after uncovering safety issues that “require significant works”.
Radius Housing, which has installed a 24-hour waking watch at Coopers Court in Belfast, made the decision after undertaking a detailed inspection that “identified a number of issues which require significant works, including matters relating to safety standards within the building”.
The 33,000-home landlord said the inspection was performed by a team of specialists with expertise in construction and safety, following issues with the mains water supply.
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Radius said having considered the “extensive nature” of the works required, it decided that the most appropriate way of undertaking the remediation work is to fully vacate the building.
The social landlord wrote to the 32 residents in Coopers Court in February to inform them of the decision and began the process of moving them out. It aims to have done this by the end of April 2024.
Radius said its staff have been “providing advice and support to all tenants to assist them moving to a permanent home”.
In the meantime, the landlord has put a series of safety measures in place, including a fire marshal who is now present onsite 24 hours a day, regular fire drills to support the ‘evacuation first’ procedure in the event of a fire incident, and communication of this to all residents.
John McLean, chief executive of Radius Housing, said: “We understand that this will be a difficult time for the tenants of Coopers Court, however, their safety is paramount.
“We will do all we can now and in the future to support the re-accommodation process.”
Earlier this month, Welsh housing association Trivallis asked 40 households to leave their homes over a risk posed by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
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