Danger fears in Ingress Park, Greenhithe, after flat catches fire
Residents are terrified their building could be next to go up in flames after fire ripped through balconies at a nearby apartment block.
Clare Hughes and fellow residents have been fighting for almost three years to get housing developer Crest Nicholson to carry out remedial work necessary for her apartment block to meet adequate fire safety standards after it failed a safety assessment.
Clare, who has lived in Ingress Park, Greenhithe, for nine years, is even more concerned after the recent blaze at a similarly built block of flats across the road.
She said: “This building was built around the same time and is a similar model to Bessborough House, so we are very worried.”
She said the issue of the fire safety dangers at her property came to light after the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017 caused buildings over 11 metres, or those deemed of concern, to be forced to undergo fire assessments.
Clare said: “We had an assessment and it found the fire safety was not adequate.”
But since then nothing has been done and property managers FirstPort even had to start tribunal action to get a ruling on who should pay for the work. But they and residents say they have been waiting for Crest to undertake it.
Clare said: “The report found the balconies are made of combustible materials so they were downgraded because of that in the assessment.
“We also have [inadequate] firebreaks in the building cavities which means should it catch fire, the flames would eat through the building really fast.
“Fire breaks are there to stop it but that’s not the case for us.”
The communications worker is hoping the fire will lead to action from Crest Nicholson, saying: “I hope the whole incident the other night is a wake-up call.”
Fire safety reports seen by KentOnline reveal the building was found to have balconies made of combustible materials and inadequate firebreaks.
As a result, remedial and interim measures were required to be carried out, but as yet, residents say, nothing has been done.
Dartford MP Gareth Johnson (Con), who has been helping in the battle, said: “It has been an incredibly frustrating and stressful experience for some of the residents in Ingress Park trying to deal with fire safety issues.
“I have been working with them for several years now to try and find a resolution.
“The government has made available £5 billion to tackle these problems but we need the developers to play their part too.”
‘Should it catch fire, the flames would eat through the building really fast’
In a paper seen by KentOnline, a tribunal in March 2022 stated: “The tribunal is satisfied on the expert evidence of a fire engineer that the balconies at Darbyshire House and Oarsman House represented a significant fire risk which requires remedial works.
“The fire engineer in his report identified the exposed timber decking and the vertical alignment of the balconies as significant factors which would contribute to the risk of rapid external fire spread.”
Cllr Cally Gale, who lives on Ingress Park, has also been involved in leading the residents’ battle with Crest Nicholson to get the necessary work carried out.
She said: “I am aghast this work has not been scheduled, no start date confirmed and residents left in limbo as to the safety of their homes for so long.
“We have documents that show repeatedly that remedial works are needed to comply with fire safety regulation.
“If anything else occurs or is substantially delayed, it’s on their heads.”
Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a fire at Bessborough House in Carmichael Avenue, in Ingress Park on Monday night.
Four fire engines and a height vehicle were sent to the scene, where firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the flames using a hosereel jet.
Three people were checked over by SECAmb paramedics as a precaution for suspected smoke inhalation. Luckily no other injuries were reported.
It is believed the fire started on a balcony and spread to a flat and a neighbouring balcony. The cause is not yet known.
A FirstPort spokesman said: “We understand the frustration felt by residents and we’re doing all we can to support them.
“We are in regular contact with the developer and the landlord to move things forward and we will of course update residents as progress is made.
“The landlord has informed us it provided its form of standard consent licence to Crest Nicholson on March 7 to allow them the access they required to commence the process of remediation.
“Further, the landlord has informed us that Crest Nicholson have not agreed nor entered into the licence. The licence is intended to provide appropriate protections for the residents at Ingress Park.
“It is in everyone’s interest to see Ingress Park remediated as soon as possible and we are working with all involved to enable that to happen.”
However, Crest Nicholson has hit back – saying it was keen to get on with the works but was still awaiting clearance from the landlord.
A spokesman said: “There are some remedial works required and we remain committed to undertaking these at no cost to residents and leaseholders.
“We are able to start on these works as soon as [we’re granted] licences and agreements to provide us access.
“We understand the frustration of residents and appreciate their patience whilst we wait for these permissions.”
The landlord has been asked for comment to clarify the hold up.