Cladding repairs are finally progressing on the Alencon Link high-rise, offering a measure of relief to residents after long delays.
They started fixing the cladding in September, after residents got a warning that they might not see big changes right away. The cladding contains flammable polystyrene. In the event of a fire, the building could be engulfed quickly, similar to the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017.
The progress of the work is good news, as residents waited over a year for it to begin. Work was initially set for September 2023 but was delayed several times. It finally started September 30 last year.
Barratt blamed the delays on the need for approvals from the BSR. The Building Safety Regulator approved it August 15.
The work is estimated to take around 26 months, meaning residents may wait until November 2026 before the scaffolding comes down. Barratt, who built the building, said they would reduce disruption whenever possible.