Remedial works on Verdigris Apartments complete
A two-year building safety remediation work project has now completed on Verdigris Apartments, a leaseholder block in Bethnal Green.
In January 2021, we obtained grant approval for required remedial works for the B2 rated building, and since then we have been working with our contractor Axis, to carry out these important fire safety works. The works have included recladding, compartmentalisation works, and the installation of heat rise alarms.
Works officially came to an end in March 2023, meaning we were able to issue the updated EWS1 to Verdigris leaseholders. The works raised the EWS1 rating to a B1, meaning the engineer’s view is that “the fire risk is sufficiently low that no remedial works are required’.
The project manager for Verdigris, Laurance Stroud, said:
We’re pleased we have been able to provide Verdigris with an EWS B1 rating, which we know will help with sales and re-mortgages for the leaseholders. And most importantly, the works have created a safer home for our residents.
Continuing to improve fire safety for our other buildings
By 2025, our building safety programme will achieve a B1 rating for our buildings over 18 metres, meaning no remediation work is required. For buildings that require the newly introduced PAS 9980 methodology, we’ll develop a suitable remediation plan to achieve a ‘medium’ or ‘low’ rating (considered an acceptable level of risk) without the need for disruptive of expensive works.
It is not a requirement, nor would it be practical, to remove all flammable materials from our buildings, as the impact on residents would be too significant. This approach is supported by a comprehensive mitigation plan.
As part of our culture of continuous improvement, we’ll embed our learnings from our completed projects. We want our residents to feel confident in our management of building safety. We will continue to create dedicated communication and engagement strategies for residents living in high-risk buildings. Our commitment is to always listen and act when it is right to do so.
To manage risk and ensure our B2 rated buildings remain safe, we’ll complete monthly health and safety inspections, annual Fire Risk Assessments, and frequently review performance measures.
If you’re interested in the other projects we’re managing, you can take a look at our building safety pages on our website.