In the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy, Havering Council has introduced a series of comprehensive measures to ensure the continued safety and well-being of Council tenants.
At the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 9 April 2025, Cabinet Members reviewed recommendations to undertake essential fire safety works to a number of the Council’s high-rise buildings to ensure their continued safety and the safety of our residents.
Havering Council has already registered all of its 15 tall buildings, which are at least 18 meters in height or have six storeys, with the Building Safety Regulator and the London Fire Brigade.
Detailed Building Safety Case Files have also been produced for each building.
In response to the Fire Safety Regulations 2022, the Council has also implemented additional monitoring regimes to ensure compliance including regular testing and servicing of equipment, following consumer standards set by the Regulator for Social Housing, and compliance with the Building Safety Act.
Fire safety booklets have also been distributed to tenants in tall buildings, providing essential information on fire safety protocols.
In addition, the Council shares relevant information with the LFB and engages with tenants as part of our engagement strategy.
All compliance checks are up to date, improvements to compartmentalisation have been done, and replacement fire doors installed, gerda boxes are up to date (containing information about the building for the London Fire Brigade), and all the dry risers are regularly checked.
The Council is actively working on regeneration proposals for the Waterloo and Queen Street site with our joint venture partner, Wates, including redesign of the buildings over 18 meters to include a second staircase whilst the lower level buildings of blocks nine and ten, which represents 100% social housing is brought forward first.
Councillor Paul McGeary, Cabinet Lead for Housing Property, said:
“The devastating events of June 14, 2017, which claimed 72 lives, have profoundly impacted communities across the UK, and our thoughts remain with the victims, their families, and all those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.
“Havering Council remains committed to preventing such a tragedy from occurring in our borough. We have taken significant steps to improve the safety and well-being of our tenants.
“We are committed to ensuring that all Council-managed properties meet the required standards of fire safety.
“Our proactive measures reflect our dedication to preventing another tragedy like Grenfell."
One practical measure approved at this month’s Cabinet meeting is the planned safety works and further improvements to Highfield Tower in Harold Hill, to comply with new regulations.
The recent replacement of fire doors is an example of improvements that have already been made to Highfield Tower whilst a small proportion of the cladding will be replaced in advance of the main contract works.