A POST-GRENFELL review has revealed the need for “important fire safety works” at a Cardiff apartment block.
The council has approved plans filed by Savills on behalf of the Bellway, the UK housing giant behind the building and wider site, for the replacement of external cladding at Lady Isle House in Ferry Court.
The building is located on the Prospect Place development, which has seen a number of applications approved for similar fire-safety works for some of its other apartment blocks in recent months.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that in October 2024 some residents of Lady Isle House were moved into temporary accommodation following a fire risk assessment although they were moved back into the apartment block before Christmas as fire safety measures were implemented.
Planning documents state: “Following the Grenfell Tower disaster Bellway have undertaken a detailed review of all of their built schemes.
“This process has identified a number of buildings which are in part constructed with potentially combustible cladding material, including the aforementioned buildings.
“Bellway have committed to replacing the potentially combustible materials with appropriate alternative non-combustible materials.”
Works approved for the site include the “installation of 90-minute fire-rated cavity barriers within the brickwork”, the replacement of the timber cladding and sandwich board panels with a “non-combustible alternative”, replacement of external wall insulation, the inspection of the curtain wailing system, and the “removal of all combustible balcony decking and replacement with a non-combustible system”.
In summary, the removal and replacement of combustible materials with non-combustible alternatives.
The plans say the works are all “like-for-like replacements in terms of appearance”, which will not “alter the external appearance of the building”.
They add: “The building is of contemporary appearance, characterised by its predominant use of cladding panels.
“Following the works this appearance and character would be maintained.”
The works, which are called “important fire safety works” in plans, have been planned with the aim to “ensure compliance with the latest fire safety regulations”.
