Chipping Barnet MP, Theresa Villiers, has asked Communities Secretary Michael Gove to provide funding help to tackle a fire risk affecting a thousand homes in Barnet.
Following a fire last summer in a council owned property which spread rapidly, Barnet Council commissioned an independent investigation to assess if there were similar properties in the borough with the same potential fire safety issues.
This identified 153 council owned homes, 7 leasehold homes and 426 freehold properties which are believed to be of similar construction to the buildings affected by the fire.
The timber-clad and UPVC-clad properties were constructed during the 1930s to 1960s, and will have met building regulations at the time, but along with the timber frame of these buildings and fire stop issues, they no longer meet more stringent post-Grenfell building standards.
It is expected that tackling these fire safety concerns will cost up to £23,000 per property. The council will fully fund the works to the council owned homes and has set aside a budget of £3.6million for this.
To help support the freeholders and leaseholders, Barnet Council has also allocated a budget of £13m to cover the upfront costs and will be putting in place a loan and repayment plan to help those homeowners who commission the council to undertake the work, to manage the cost.
Theresa Villiers said “Thankfully, there isn’t an immediate safety hazard for people living in these properties but it will be a huge shock to receive a bill for £23,000.”
“I welcome the statement by the council that they will pay for and carry out the work on the homes they own, and that they will also provide some help to manage and spread out the costs of remediating the privately owned properties affected. But I am asking the Government to step in and provide further support.”
“Extensive funding has been provided by the Government to remediate tall buildings with ACM cladding. I hope that they can help in this case too.”
Digital imprint: Promoted by Theresa Villiers MP of 163 High Street, Barnet, Herts, EN5 5SU.
