WORK to remove potentially dangerous cladding from an apartment block in Basingstoke will commence next week after a series of delays.

Scaffolding will be erected at Crown Heights, in Alencon Link, on Monday, September 30, in preparation for remedial works to begin on the high-rise building.

In 2021, the building failed its external wall system fire review certificate after it was found to be covered in the flammable material expanded polystyrene (EPS) and featured no fire breaks.

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It means the building is at risk of being engulfed if a fire broke out, similar to the tragedy that happened at Grenfell Tower in 2017.

High-rise buildings with flammable cladding were put under further scrutiny this month after a landmark report into the fire in Grenfell concluded in early September after a seven-year inquiry.

The works will see Barratt, the original developer of the building, remove the insulated render facade to replace it with a 'non-combustible alternative' as well as replace the copings to the roof.

The work is expected to take 26 months, a change in timeline from the original figure of 14 months provided to residents. 

Work was previously scheduled to start in September 2023, but was then pushed back to November.

Residents have had a lengthy wait, with work delayed until July and then August as Barratt was waiting to receive approval for the works from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).

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Work to remove the flammable cladding will now begin after Barratt received approval from the BSR on August 15.

A spokesperson for Barratt told the Gazette: "We currently hope to start the remedial works in the week commencing 30 September 2024, subject to contracts being signed."

On the topic of potential disruption for residents, the spokesperson said: "As with all remediation work, there will be some disruption for residents, however, we will do what we can to mitigate this wherever possible.

"There will be a Resident Liaison Officer based on site five days a week to support residents. As we draw closer to our start-on-site date, we will also be arranging an engagement meeting with the contractor so residents have the opportunity to ask questions about the works."