William Eichler 03 July 2019

Majority of high-rise social housing without sprinklers decade after Lakanal House fire

Around 95% of high-rise social housing blocks are still without sprinklers 10 years after the Lakanal House fire took the lives of six people.

Labour has called for a £1bn Fire Safety Fund to finance safety work and retrofit sprinklers in high-rise social housing blocks after their investigation found many blocks did not have sufficient fire safety measures in place.

The opposition party used Freedom of Information requests, private surveys and publicly available data to compile information from 354 councils and Arm’s Length Management Organisations (ALMOs).

It revealed that 95% of local authority-owned tower blocks taller than 30 metres do not have sprinkler systems installed despite sprinklers being a legal requirement in all new high-rise blocks since 2007.

Labour accused ministers of refusing to help fund the retrofitting of sprinklers in social sector blocks during the two year period since the Grenfell disaster left 72 people dead.

A recent letter to the Government from councils in England’s 15 largest cities called for a Government fund for sprinkler retrofitting.

According to the letter, ‘a number of local authorities have either consulted or drawn up programmes to retrofit.’ However, the costs for some authorities’ sprinkler programmes are set to exceed £30m.

‘The Lakanal House fire showed the clear need for sprinklers in all tall housing blocks. Yet a decade on, nothing has changed,’ said the Shadow Housing Minister Sarah Jones MP.

‘We know ministers ignored years of warnings prior to Grenfell, and two years after 72 people died they are still refusing to make blocks safe.

‘It is simply a contradiction in terms for the government to suggest that sprinklers are essential in new buildings whilst ignoring calls for them in older buildings.

'This creates a two-tier system, hierarchy of harm where social housing tenants are disproportionately affected.

‘Sprinklers save lives. That’s why Labour is calling for a Government Fire Safety Fund to fund councils fully with sprinklers and other essential fire safety work.’

A Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government spokesperson said: 'Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure in their own home.

'Sprinklers are just one of a range of measures which can be used to ensure people are safe – building owners are responsible for the safety of their buildings and we expect them to take advice from relevant experts and decide whether or not to retrofit sprinklers.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Head of Democratic Services, Elections & Monitoring Officer

Harborough District Council
Grade 12 £67,236 – £71,223 plus £3000pa Statutory Officer Allowance
We are looking for an accomplished and proactive leader for our vacant post of Head of Democratic Services & Elections Market Harborough, Leicestershire
Recuriter: Harborough District Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
£35,412 - £39,152 (pre-progression) / £40,777 - £45,091 (post-progression)
We are looking for social workers who have completed the assessed and supported year in employment to join our Families First teams, working with our Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 9 £35,412 - £39,152 (Pre-Progression) / Grade 11 £40,777 - £45,091 (Post-Progression)
Are you a nurturing social worker passionate about supporting parents so that children can remain with their birth family?     This could be the right Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Administrative Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 4 £25,583 - £26,824
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Administrative Officer to join our busy, friendly team, supporting Children and Young People’s Services. 1 x Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Lunchtime Play Worker

Durham County Council
£24,796 pro rata
Lunchtime Play Worker Grade 1 £24,796 pro rata Part Time - 6.25 hour per week, Monday – Friday
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner