Update on Denning Point | Latest news

Update on Denning Point

Statement on Fire Safety at Denning Point

Following notification by the DCLG of the results of the panel testing, on Friday 23 June 2017, the London Fire Brigade carried out a full fire safety assessment of Denning Point in Spitalfields E1. We are pleased to report they were satisfied with the inspection and the measures EastendHomes has taken to ensure the safety of residents in the block. 

The statement below provides a full update on fire safety at Denning Point and action taken since the 22 June 2017.

Thursday 22 June PM

On the evening of the 22 June, EastendHomes were informed by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) that cladding from Denning Point, did not fully comply with the requirements of the testing undertaken by the Building Research Establishment (BRE).

The DCLG have stated that failing the test does not necessarily mean that a building is unsafe, but that further testing will need to be carried out and safety measures put in place.

The safety of our residents is our priority. EastendHomes took immediate action to implement DCLG recommendations, ensuring Denning Point was safe and keeping our residents informed throughout.

  • 24-hour fire patrols were put in place for Denning Point, in particular block inspections at hourly intervals are carried out throughout the night.

Friday 23 June

  • The London Fire Brigade carried out a full fire assessment of Denning Point. We are pleased to report they were satisfied with the inspection and the measures EastendHomes have taken to ensure the safety of residents. 
  • We updated every household in Denning Point, explaining the DCLG testing and detailing the action taken and advising that our staff will be carrying out home visits to all residents on Saturday 24 June. Since the tragic Grenfell Tower fire, we have been in regular contact with all our residents providing advice and addressing any fire safety concerns they may have. 
  • Our head office located at the base of Denning Point means that our staff were able to answer any immediate questions residents had. Because EastendHomes provides a local estate based housing service this meant we were aware of the needs of our vulnerable and older tenants living in Denning Point and could target our home visits accordingly.

Saturday 24 June

  • Our housing officers visited every home in Denning Point to update residents and address any concerns. Officers also checked residents’ fire alarms, door closers and balconies.
  • Following residents’ feedback, we will be introducing sprinklers into the communal refuse chamber of Denning Point. This was actioned on Monday 26 June 2017.
  • We continue to work closely with our residents, the DCLG, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, the London Fire Brigade and local MP Rushanara Ali to review the safety of Denning Point. We will also be seeking further information on the results of the panel sample supplied for testing by the BRE.

EastendHomes would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of Denning Point for their patience and co-operation during this understandably difficult and stressful time and also our staff who have worked tirelessly to ensure all our buildings meet the highest fire safety standards.

 

Notes

EastendHomes

  • EastendHomes is a local community based housing association with 4,000 homes in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. 
  • We have estates in Spitalfields, Mile End, Shadwell/Wapping, and Mile End.
  • Since the transfer of the estates from Tower Hamlets council between 2005-7 EastendHomes has invested over £140 million in estate refurbishment and new homes
  • As part of the estate regeneration programme EeH has built over 300 new homes, all of which have been let at social rent levels
  • Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has assessed EastendHomes as G1 and V1 which are the highest ratings for governance and financial viability

Denning Point

  • Denning Point was transferred to EastendHomes from Tower Hamlets council in 2006 as part of the Housing Choice stock transfer programme.
  • There are 81 flats in Denning Point:
    • 41 are 1 bed flats and 40 are 2 bed flats.
    • 34 flats are tenanted, 47 flats are leaseholder owned
  • Denning Point was refurbished as part of a comprehensive redevelopment and refurbishment scheme which created an increased number of social homes, as well as shared ownership units and private apartments. The development also involved the provision of new retail units and the new Head Office for EastendHomes.

The external enveloping/refurbishment of Denning Point included:

  • Insulation of the external walls, including rainscreen cladding
  • Renewal of private balcony balustrading for all flats
  • New double glazed windows to replace existing single glazing
  • Installation of new floor to ceiling living room glazing to all flats in the block.

Cladding and panels

  • The cladding system used at Denning Point is a type of rain-screen cladding
  • The cladding panels are ACM (Aluminium Composite Material)
  • The type of cladding panel used on Denning Point is an FR panel, which contains a fire retardant
  • It has been widely reported in the press that the type of cladding panel causing the greatest fire safety concern is the PE panel, which is a panel with a core primarily comprising of polyethylene
  • EastendHomes has no other blocks with ACM panels.

Fire safety history of Denning Point

  • Denning Point has an up to date Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) which was carried out by a qualified Fire Safety consultant in March 2017.
  • A further joint fire safety inspection of Denning Point took place with the London Fire Brigade on Friday 23 June. The Fire Brigade did not raise any issues of concern or make any additional recommendations for Denning Point.

 

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