‘Killer’ cladding ripped down from tower blocks around the country after Grenfell fire as Government confirm 75 towers in 26 areas affected
CLADDING on tower blocks is being ripped down across the country amid fears they could contribute towards another deadly Grenfell-style fire.
Tests are urgently being done on materials on buildings throughout Britain - after the Government estimated that there could be 600 blocks with similar cladding on them.
So far, 95 blocks in 32 areas have been found to have failed fire safety tests.
Today it was revealed that the disastrous fire at the 24-storey block was started by a Hotpoint fridge freezer.
On June 14 a fire ripped through 24-storey Grenfell Tower in West London killing at least 79, with more still missing.
Police also said today that they were considering manslaughter charges as cladding was revealed to have failed safety tests.
On Monday afternoon it was revealed that 76 high-rises in 26 local authority areas had been found with cladding that raised safety concerns.
Terrified residents living in tower blocks around the UK are asking to be rehomed, as some councils say it will be "weeks" before all the cladding can be taken down.
Sarah Blakebrough, who lives in a Plymouth high rise with her two children aged eight and four said “we want to get out of this building as soon as possible”.
Sarah told This Morning she hoped her chances of being relocated would be higher now explaining "we have young children in what is potentially a dangerous building".
The spread of the “unprecedented blaze” has been linked to combustible cladding and the Government announced on Thursday that at least 600 tower blocks in England have similar cladding coverings.
Not all of them will be exactly the same as that used at Grenfell tower.
Up to 100 tests on cladding are being done every day - and residents are seriously worried about their own buildings being at risk.
Downing Street said this morning that private landlords will not be required to carry out testing, but local authorities are advising them to do so.
Here's what we know about the towers that are affected.
London
- Barnet: Of the council's 24 high-rose blocks, it is reviewing the safety of 10 over fears they have similar cladding to that of Grenfell Tower. Three towers (The Granville Point, Harpenmead Point and Templemead Point) were found to have similar panels, but the material is non-noncombustible. As of Friday afternoon, the Council confirmed that the panels in the blocks in Granville Road will be being removed as a precaution as soon as possible
- Barking and Dagenham: The cladding used on Grenfell Tower has not been used on any of the Council's blocks. Four blocks within the borough have cladding (Oldmead House, Bartlett House, Mersea House and Colne House) - but this is a different material. The Council is continuing inspections of the rest of the buildings in the borough
- Brent: One building has failed tests
- Camden: Work will get underway "as soon as possible" to remove cladding from five blocks on the Chalcots estate, which were found to have combustible cladding
- Islington: The Council confirmed that cladding will be removed from Braithwaite House after tests showed they had an aluminium composite material. Safety patrols are also taking place until the panels are removed. Test results are yet to be returned from other blocks - Harvist Estate and Brunswick Estate
- Greenwich: None of the 105 buildings in the borough which have six storeys or more use similar kinds of cladding to the Grenfell Tower block
Similar panels are believed to have been used on developments across London - Hammersmith and Fulham: Three tower blocks are owned by the council, but they do not have cladding which is similar to Grenfell
- Houndslow: Cladding at a tower in Clements Court in Cranford failed a fire safety test and will be taken down "as soon as possible", the Council said. But the cladding inside was non-combustible, unlike that at Grenfell tower
- Havering: Inspections are underway on the cladding of tower blocks owned by the council
- Lambeth: One building has failed tests
- Newham: Ferrior Point tower was one of three towers found to have cladding panels with aluminium composite, and had been refurbished by Rydon. But the insulation was said to be fire-resistant
- Richmond: The two tower blocks owned by the council (Slade House and Jamieson House in Heathfield) have recently been re-clad, but with fireproof material. All blocks have up-to-date fire risk assessments
- Sutton: Balaam House and Chaucer House are the only blocks fitted with cladding - and the materials are different to that which was used at Grenfell tower. A fire safety review of eight blocks will be carried out
- Tower Hamlets: Cladding on Denning Point tower block, which is not council owned, "did not fully comply with the requirements" of safety tests, the Council said. A 24/7 fire patrol has been introduced to reassure residents. All tower blocks are currently undergoing additional fire safety tests. No council owned blocks have any cladding
- Tottenham: Rivers Apartments in South London were found to have been clad with the same material used on Grenfell tower. But after an extensive safety audit, it was confirmed that the block was a "low fire risk" after modifications
- Wandsworth: Two buildings in the borough have failed tests
Plymouth
Three high-rise tower blocks in Devon have been found to be clad in the same combustible material to the Grenfell Tower in London, and will have their cladding removed.
Residents in Lynher, Tavy and Tamar high-rises as part of the Mount Wise Tower estate in Devonport had expressed their concern for the safety of their homes.
Resident Brian Stevens, 70, said he was "really peeves at the risk we have been put int".
He said that he felt safe until the Council issues the concerns about the block.
The 26-storey buildings were built in the 1960s.
Firefighters remove a cladding panel from Lynher Tower in DevonportCredit: SWNS:South West News Service Manchester and Salford
Four buildings in total have failed cladding tests, according to Government data.
Cladding was stripped off the Village 125 development in Wythenshawe on Thursday night after concerns were raised.
All 56 tower blocks owned by the Council or social housing providers were being sent away for tests.
And nine tower blocks in Salford were found to use similar cladding containing aluminium composite material - and work has now begun to remove it. There are a total of 40 blocks in the Salford area.
It is understood that the cladding is set to be removed from the following blocks in Pendleton, which range from eight and 24 storeys high:
- Whitebeam Court
- Malus Court
- Beech Court
- Salix Court
- Spruce Court
- Holm Court
- Hornbeam Court
- Thorn Court
- Plane Court
A council source told the Manchester Evening News: “The cladding is coming off all nine as a precaution. It is a shame because the blocks are looking the best they have done for years but we cannot take chances.”
Drop-in sessions for each block will also take place, where residents can ask questions to council staff.
Liverpool
Cladding is being removed from Cygnet House and Wren House in Bootle as a precaution, following Government tests.
It did not meet the test criteria, the housing provider said.
Stockton-on-Tees
Three buildings have failed tests.
Cladding from a new tower block in Wythenshaw has been taken away for testingCredit: Zenpix Cladding is also being removed from a tower block in Manchester The results are not yet back on whether they are combustible Cladding has been stripped from a new tower block in WythenshawCredit: Zenpix Portsmouth
The City Council confirmed on Friday they would remove cladding from two tower blocks as a "precautionary measure" after tests revealed a fire risk.
It was found from tests that they could be a fire risk, and the material is set to be removed "as quickly as we can".
The 18-storey blocks in question are Horatia House and Leamington House.
Council staff will also be on hand in the two buildings, 24 hours a day, for as long as needed.
Letters are being delivered to residents to explain the situation.
Sheffield
Harold Lambert Court in the Park Hill area is being checked - and cladding has been sent off for analysis.
Halifax
Three blocks in Lower Mixenden - Jumples Court, Mixenden Court and Wheatley Court - are being checked by independent contractors.
Initital inspections suggest it is not the same cladding used on Grenfell Tower.
Norwich
One building has failed tests, according to Government data.
Sunderland
Five buildings have failed tests - and the type of cladding has now been removed from tower blocks.
Doncaster
Doncaster Council said that window capping on external stairwell windows at Silverwood House was being removed after a Government tests.
A safety review was conducted on all nine of its high-rise blocks.