Progress is finally visible at Crown Heights in Basingstoke, where scaffolding has been erected as part of ongoing efforts to remove hazardous cladding from the high-rise building.

Photos taken at the site show the newly installed scaffolding surrounding the Alencon Link building, a key milestone in the project that began late last month.

The cladding, which contains flammable expanded polystyrene, poses a heightened fire risk similar to the material implicated in the 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster.

Barratt Developments, the original developer of Crown Heights, previously confirmed that work to remove the dangerous cladding started on September 30 after extensive delays and regulatory requirements.

READ MORE: Crown Heights cladding work starts but residents may not see big changes immediately

Early tasks included setting up an offsite office, creating additional parking facilities, and installing power and light meters. Now, with scaffolding in place, the physical removal of cladding is set to commence.

For residents, this project marks the end of a long wait. Originally scheduled to start in September 2023, the removal was postponed to November and then delayed again until late summer due to pending approval from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).

Final approval was granted on August 15, allowing Barratt to begin the project.

The cladding removal, expected to take up to 26 months to complete, is a relief for residents who have faced safety concerns and uncertainty for over a year.

Barratt has committed to “mitigating disruption wherever possible” throughout the duration of the work.