Developer urged not to charge residents £2.4m for removal of ‘Grenfell’ cladding

Fire risk: New Providence Wharf in Poplar. More than 500 flat owners in one of five blocks face being charged to have the panels removed
Nigel Howard
Kiran Randhawa19 November 2018

A developer has been urged not to charge residents £2.4 million to remove Grenfell Tower-style cladding from their block.

More than 500 people living in New Providence Wharf in Poplar were told they could have to pay an average of more than £4,000 each to remove the panels after freeholder Landor Residential, part of the Ballymore group, refused to foot the bill.

But the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has now asked the group to “protect” leaseholders from the costs. It came after dozens of residents sent letters to Housing Secretary James Brokenshire, urging him to “put pressure” on the developer.

A spokeswoman said: “Nothing is more important than ensuring people are safe in their homes. We have been clear building owners and developers should do the right thing and foot the bill for removing unsafe cladding.”

New Providence Wharf, where apartments can cost up to £1.2 million, consists of five blocks. Only the original tower, built in 2005, was coated with the aluminium composite material panels blamed for the rapid spread of the Grenfell Tower fire last year.

Residents were told the cost of replacing cladding would be added to their annual service charge. Some feared they would face a bill of at least £16,000 that would “potentially leave many without a home”.

Residents were also concerned they had not seen the full results of a fire safety review, carried out by the company. Local MP Jim Fitzpatrick also asked the developer to reveal its findings. Ballymore group denied it had withheld the report and added: “We continue to work with owners and other stakeholders to ensure a solution is found.”

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