Petition details
RESOLVING NEW PROVIDENCE WHARF CLADDING - ACTION REQUIRED
Grenfell stands as one of single greatest tragedies in recent
history. We share a collective responsibility to do all we can to
prevent such a disaster ever happening again. This means taking
decisive action here in Tower Hamlets.
New Providence Wharf (NPW), home to nearly one thousand Tower
Hamlet Residents, has been identified as having ACM cladding that
must be removed. (New Providence Wharf London, Fire safety review
of external cladding, 06/09/2018 Revision 2, Report of Hoare Lea).
We are of the opinion that 18 months on from Grenfell, and despite
their slogan of `Bold ambition underlined by vigilant
responsibility`, Ballymore, the company that built NPW, the company
that retains the freehold, and the company that manages the
property, has failed to act to make New Providence Wharf as safe as
it needs to be. Retention of ACM cladding would fly in the face of
clear and repeated calls from the Secretary of State for Housing,
Communities and Local Government and Mayor Biggs - not to mention
the repeated requests from residents and leaseholder
We welcome Mayor Biggs` unequivocal message that `Ballymore has a clear responsibility of care and that developers and building owners should pay for cladding and remediation, not leaseholders`.
We consider that Ballymore can no longer be allowed to avoid their responsibilities. Now is the time for them to fulfill their obligations and pay their full part in ensuring we live in a Tower Hamlets that is safe for all and where company and personal profit does not take precedence over lives.
James Brokenshire's parliamentary minutes - https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-11-29/HCWS1126/
This Petition ran from 20/12/2018 to 06/03/2019 and has now finished.
203 people signed this Petition.
Council response
Thank you for the petition you presented to the Council in March. I am writing to confirm the response in writing.
The Mayor met with senior representatives of Ballymore on 12 March to put further pressure on the company to expedite remediation works to make the buildings safe by removing the ACM cladding.
The Council has enforcement powers under the Housing Act 2004 to ensure improvement works to remove health and safety hazards are carried out properly and promptly. The Mayor made it clear to Batlymore that the Council stands ready to use these powers if sufficient progress to remediate the buildings is not made.
Ballymore committed to providing full details of their remediation plans and interim measures in place to protect resident safety in the event of fire. The Environmental Health team will be contacting Ballymore to schedule in statutory health and safety inspections.
Although the Council has no legal powers in relation to whether the cost of remediation works is passed onto leaseholders or met by the freeholder, the Mayor made it clear that he supports the Secretary of State's call on developers and freeholders to meet these costs. Ballymore informed the Mayor that they will shortly be issuing a revised offer to leaseholders regarding payment arrangements.
Mark Baigent
Interim Divisional Director-- Housing and Regeneration