Non-compliant cladding investigation ongoing across BCP

In July last year, the Echo revealed a probe was underway into 22 high-rises across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole over fire safety concerns more than four years after the Grenfell Tower fire.

Thirteen months later and this figure has remained the same with several blocks now undergoing cladding replacement works.

A council spokesperson said: “BCP Council in liaison with Dorset Fire and Rescue Service is continuing with the assessment of the fire safety aspects of high-rise buildings with a height of over 18m which is generally over six storeys tall.

“Of the total high-rise blocks in the BCP area, 22 are currently under investigation for fire safety matters associated with cladding. BCP Council is continuing to work with the property owners to remediate any issues identified in a timely manner, and where this does not yield compliance, enforcement action will be taken.

Cladding at Dolphin Quays

“Two blocks have had enforcement notices issued on them, and are subsequently currently being remediated.

“I’m afraid we’re not able to provide the names of the buildings as it’s exempt from enquiry or FOI under government mandate. However, there is one block where cladding remediation has been completed, there are two blocks where work is almost complete and there are a number of buildings around the conurbation which are currently being remediated which will reduce any potential risk to those residents when complete.”

Among the most affected buildings are the towers at Sterte Court, which have undergone a series of cladding mishaps since last year. Extensive work to replace cladding first took place in 2015, but that work was ultimately revealed to be substandard.

Despite being told remedial work would take 40 weeks last year, the ongoing work has instead lasted close to 80 weeks.

Elsewhere in Poole, an application was recently filed for the Altitude building in Parkstone Road “for the removal of limited combustible cladding”. Other buildings seen with recently erected scaffolding include Dolphin Quays where residents say grey cladding panels are being removed.