FBU and housing campaigners call for halt to building of Penge Tower

In light of new building safety regulations which state that tower blocks over 18 metres high must have two staircases, developers reduced the height of the planned tower block to just 30 cm below the threshold.

Despite the London Fire Brigade stating that reducing the block to 17.7 metres to avoid the need for a second staircase is ‘not ethically justified’ and submitting a nine-point objection on fire safety grounds, Bromley Council has given the development a green light.

Evacuation of the Grenfell Tower was found to have been hindered by the tower having only one narrow stairwell.

Highest standards

The letter calls for the GLA to direct Bromley Council to prevent construction until plans meet the “highest standards of building safety”.  

Organisations campaigning for safer tower blocks following the Grenfell Tower tragedy have signed, describing the plans as risking another fire safety disaster and setting a precedent for developers across the country.

Justice for Grenfell, End Our Cladding Scandal, Tower Blocks UK and UK Cladding Action have all backed the call for action alongside ACORN and London Renters’ Union as well as local residents’ groups including the Penge Preservation Society.

Cutting corners

FBU general secretary Steve Wright said: “This is an attempt to cut corners and circumvent the safety regulations introduced to avoid a repeat of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.”

Wright added: “If the development goes ahead in its current form, residents of this property will only have one staircase which they can use to evacuate. This could cost lives.”

In conclusion, Wright noted: “It’s vital that Sadiq Khan uses his powers to block this attempt to circumvent the safety improvements that were introduced in the wake of the Grenfell fire.”