Proposal for Flammable Cladding Removal from Residential Building

A planning application, if approved, would lead to the removal of combustible cladding and sections of balconies from a residential building. The developers aim to take out these materials from Grand Union House, located on Stoke Road in Slough, citing that they “represent a great risk of accelerating the spread of fire.” Beckingford Estates stated its intention to adhere to more stringent safety regulations implemented after the 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster. The proposed plan involves replacing the flammable insulation, timber cladding, and balcony decking. According to planning documents, the external facade of Grand Union House does not meet the government safety guidance that was issued in 2020. The company indicated that this action would result in a “more robust and higher quality exterior and considerable improvements to the fire safety of the building.” The documentation does not explain why the replacement work has not been carried out previously. The Local Democracy Reporting Service has sought comment from Beckingford Estates via its planning agents. Slough Borough Council reported that it has not engaged with Beckingford Estates concerning remediation efforts or the enforcement of safety standards. The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service stated that it received notification in July regarding the unsafe cladding system at Grand Union House. The service clarified that it did not reach out to the building’s owner because the owner “is already making efforts to carry out the necessary remediation work.” Separately, other residents in Slough returned to their homes earlier this month following a fire at their residential block in August. A blaze on 22 August led to the evacuation of nearly 300 individuals from Mosaic Apartments on High Street. The combustible cladding at that location is scheduled for removal in January. Some residents expressed to the BBC their discomfort regarding ongoing construction work upon their return. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.