High rise safety update

Sue Sutton, executive director of operations at Salix Homes, said: “The safety and wellbeing of tenants living in our tower blocks across Salford is the utmost priority for Salix Homes and following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London, we moved quickly to enhance safety measures in our high-rise blocks and raise the bar on building safety.

“Salix Homes owns 18 tower blocks across Salford, eight of which were found to have cladding systems that did not meet the Government’s test criteria.

“All our affected blocks were only partially cladded in aluminium composite material (ACM) and we can confirm that these cladding systems were fully removed from all eight blocks since last spring. These blocks are Mulberry, Magnolia and Sycamore Courts, Riverbank and Newbank Towers, Blackfriar Court and Arthur Millwood and Canon Hussey Courts.

“We’ve worked alongside technical experts to develop a permanent solution to replace the panels, and replacement cladding systems that meet the most stringent of safety requirements have now been installed and completed on six of the affected blocks.

“Remediation work is continuing at Arthur Millwood Court and Canon Hussey Court in Islington; however, the defective cladding has been completely stripped from both buildings, fire alarms have been installed and sprinklers are being fitted. This programme of work at the remaining two blocks is expected to be completed next summer.

“We’ve also completed an extensive programme of enhanced safety measures across all our tower blocks, which includes the installation of state-of-the-art fire alarms at all 18 of our high-rise buildings. We are also installing sprinkler systems where we are carrying out any major refurbishment works.

“Salix Homes is also proud to be leading the way on building safety as one of only three housing associations to be part of the Government’s Early Adopters programme; working with the Government on its Building a Safer Future initiative to test the recommendations of the Hackitt Review.

“Two years on from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Salix Homes has implemented and embedded a new standard of building safety. We will continue to develop and raise our standards, working closely with the fire service, the Government, safety experts, and of course our residents, to ensure all our buildings continue to be safe places to live, both now and in the future.”