Flammable panels, insulation and timber balcony slats need to be replaced at Abbeville Apartments in London Road, reports Nick Clark
Works to remove flammable material from a large block of 100 flats in Barking town centre have been approved.
Property developer Bouygues UK says cladding panels, insulation and timber balcony slats need to be replaced at Abbeville Apartments, above the Asda supermarket in London Road.
Barking and Dagenham Council planning officers say the changes are needed “to ensure residents’ safety within the building”.
Bouygues UK built the Abbeville Apartments at the London Road/North Street crossroad between 2012 and 2015, after demolishing the previous parade of shops and flats.
However, just over ten years since its completion, Bouygues now says it needs to replace flammable cladding panels and balcony timber.
Plans submitted to the council state: “Works include the removal of existing external cladding panels from the facades and replacement with non-combustible alternatives.
“Works also include the removal and replacement of timber decking, balcony facings and balustrades with new aluminium alternatives.”
The work will remove HPL cladding panels from the building, and the insulation behind them, the plans state. These will be replaced with non-combustible mineral wool insultation and Rockpanel A2 panels.
Timber balustrade facings and decking will also be removed from balconies and replaced with aluminium.
The plans say this will “improve fire performance, regulatory compliance, durability and long-term building safety” and that the replacements will match the current materials “as closely as possible”.
Bouygues UK applied to the council for a certificate to prove the work would be lawful, and doesn’t need planning permission, on 22nd July.
Council planning officers said they were satisfied that the changes would “improve fire safety without noticeably altering the appearance of the building”.
They confirmed the works would be lawful in a decision last Tuesday (29th September).
A planning officers’ report said: “Officers believe that the proposed changes are required to ensure residents safety within the building.”
