Plans for a residential-led tower in Penge must be halted over safety concerns, the national firefighter union has said.
In light of safety regulations stating that blocks over 18 metres must have two staircases, developers behind the planned tower reduced its height to just 30cm below the threshold, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said.
The tower, which is due to be built on the site of a shopping centre in Penge High Street, was given the green light by Bromley Council last year, but must also be signed off by the Mayor of London because of the number of residential units it would contain.
FBU general secretary Steve Wright said the decision to reduce the height of the Penge block to 17.7 metres was an attempt to “cut corners” and circumvent the safety regulations introduced to avoid a repeat of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
In an open letter, he called on London mayor Sadiq Khan to prevent construction until plans met “the highest standards of building safety”.
“If the development goes ahead in its current form, residents of this property will only have one staircase which they can use to evacuate,” Wright said.
“This could cost lives. It’s vital that Sadiq Khan uses his powers to block this attempt to circumvent the safety improvements that were introduced in the wake of the Grenfell fire.”
The call was backed by campaigners including Justice for Grenfell, End Our Cladding Scandal, Tower Blocks UK and UK Cladding Action, as well as tenants’ unions and local residents’ groups.
The scheme, a joint venture between Hadley Property Group and Clarion Housing Group, would see the demolition of the existing Blenheim Centre to make way for the delivery of 230 homes, of which 80 would be designated as affordable.
It would also see the creation of 2,500 square metres of commercial floorspace, including a new Iceland store.
The development includes 24 parking spaces, replacing an existing car park at the site, and a new pocket park with associated landscaping improvements.
Granting planning permission last March, Bromley Council said it would help revitalise Penge’s town centre and secure its long-term future as a district centre.
“While we understand the concerns, the proposal met the various required planning policies, including affordable housing, and will help to enhance and regenerate Penge’s retail landscape,” council leader Alexa Michael said at the time.
“By granting permission, we were able to impose conditions, crucially to reinforce the welcome recommended reduction in height from the original proposal.”
The decision sparked concerns from safety campaigners and three Bromley councillors, who warned the project risked “serious harm” to the local community.
The London Fire Brigade also objected to the plan going ahead, arguing that evacuation at Grenfell had been severely hindered by the building’s single narrow stairwell.
But a spokesperson for the Mayor of London said the application had been found to be compliant with London Plan policies on fire safety and the Mayor was “content” for Bromley Council to determine the application itself.
“While these policies are strict and comprehensive, we [are] aware of the FBU’s concerns and hope FBU and Bromley can meet and find a solution that all parties are happy with,” he said.
CN has contacted Hadley Property Group and Clarion Housing Group for comment.