Fire Safety Concerns Emerge Regarding EV Bus Depot in North London Development

Concerns regarding fire safety have emerged concerning a proposed high-rise development in north London, which includes a basement depot with the capacity to eventually accommodate 190 electric buses. The plans for the Broadwalk shopping centre and its surrounding vicinity in Edgware involve constructing over 3,300 residential units and moving the current Transport for London (TfL) bus station. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has expressed worries, specifically about the potential for structural damage to the building should a fire ignite in the depot. This has led a local community organization to label the project a “ticking time bomb.” According to developer Ballymore, electric vehicles will not be allowed “unless and until” the design receives approval from all pertinent authorities. The proposed scheme features tower blocks reaching up to 29 storeys, a hotel, a supermarket, a cinema, and additional retail spaces, alongside enhancements to the Deans Brook Nature Reserve. Ballymore stated that the existing TfL bus garage would be moved, and the new basement garage, situated beneath several blocks, would initially be configured for conventional buses, with plans to convert it for electric buses by obtaining future authorization. Since Ballymore submitted its outline planning application in July, nearly 2,000 public objections have been registered. In correspondence sent to Barnet Council, the LFB highlighted concerns regarding the potential for “structural collapse to the blocks of flats” situated above the garage in the event of a fire, advocating for the current application to be evaluated comprehensively. The brigade stated: “The structural integrity of many of the blocks above the bus garage are intrinsically dependent on the structural integrity of the bus garage below. “The potential for so many EV buses poses risks that are not fully understood by the industry at this point in time.” This follows a series of incidents in London involving electric bus fires, resulting in certain bus fleets being taken out of service for safety inspections. The letter also noted that several proposed amenities were inadequate, citing, for example, the inclusion of only a single firefighters’ lift. Furthermore, it indicated that the access road, capable of supporting up to 12.5 tonnes, is not appropriate for firefighting apparatus. The LFB informed the council that suitable provisions for fire containment or further risk mitigation were absent, illustrating with “an incident involving an EV emitting a toxic vapour, and the subsequent potential for a vapour cloud explosion if that cloud is confined.” The brigade inquired whether considerations had been made for smoke ventilation and “toxic water runoff” resulting from combating an EV bus fire. It also questioned if adequate access would be available for “the safe removal of any EV car that has been involved in a fire and may still pose a risk of reignition.” Another concern was the reliance on fire shutters instead of conventional fire walls, which the LFB stated would not offer equivalent protection due to increased maintenance and testing requirements. An LFB spokesperson commented: “Despite not being a statutory consultee on such planning applications, we would always look to provide a response around the fire strategy in high-rise buildings, particularly where it also involves an emerging fire hazard such as electric vehicles.” The spokesperson continued: “While further detailed plans are expected to be submitted over time, we have highlighted safety issues in our response and we strongly recommend that a development of this scale should be supported by a comprehensive, site-wide fire strategy report.” Anuta Zack, representing Save Our Edgware, characterized the proposal as “a ticking time bomb that we refuse to live with.” She further stated: “The LFB’s assessment makes it clear that the underground EV bus garage presents an unimaginable risk of collapse and toxic fire,” and urged Barnet Council to deny the application. Ballymore indicated on its website that it intends to finalize the initial phase of the project, encompassing the bus station and garage, by 2031, with the entire scheme projected for completion by 2036. A spokesperson for the development conveyed that Ballymore viewed the LFB’s feedback “as an essential part of the development’s ongoing consultation process” and confirmed that discussions with the brigade were “in ongoing dialogue.” The spokesperson also mentioned that the shift to electric vehicles constituted a “vital part of delivering electric buses across the capital.” However, they appended: “The garage will not be operational until 2030 at the earliest and we remain clear that no electric vehicles will be permitted unless and until the design has been approved by the London Fire Brigade, Barnet Council, the Health & Safety Executive and Building Control.”