Fire-risk tower blocks set for earlier revamp

Flammable cladding on dozens of tower blocks could be replaced faster than originally planned.

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) cladding is used on 38 tower blocks owned by Bristol City Council.

It was agreed that the fire-risk material would be replaced over a ten-year period when it was initially signed off in 2023, but "extra government funding" could mean the work is finished by 2029.

John Smith, the council's executive director for regeneration, said "positive" talks had been taking place with the government but nothing had been confirmed yet.

After a blaze three years ago at Eccleston House in Barton Hill, Avon Fire and Rescue Service said the EPS cladding contributed to the spread of the fire.

This led to the council declaring it would replace EPS cladding from its 38 blocks with a safer material, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

While the removal was initially estimated to take a decade, the council is now in talks with the new Labour government to finish the scheme by 2029.

An update on the council's housing budget was given to councillors on the strategy and resources policy committee on 3 February ahead of its approval by the full council later this month.

Mr Smith added: "We are in discussions with Homes England and the government about an acceleration plan. The assumption is that for the acceleration plan, which is five years, the funding would come from the government."

Wider fears over flammable cladding started in 2017, when a fire at Grenfell Tower in London killed 72 people.

However the aluminium composite material cladding used on Grenfell was different to the EPS cladding at Eccleston House and the other 37 affected blocks.

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