Bristol accelerates flammable cladding removal from council tower blocks post-fire, aiming for completion by approx. 2029 with potential government funding.
Bristol City Council owns 38 tower blocks with expanded polystyrene cladding. A Barton Hill fire showed how EPS can spread flames quickly.
Consequently, the council decided to replace the cladding with fire-resistant materials. Initially, the removal was projected to take ten years, but now they aim for five.
These discussions with the government could potentially lead to completion by 2029. The housing budget update, detailing this plan, was presented to councillors during their meeting on February 3.
John Smith discussed an acceleration plan, noting that funding would likely come from the government through Homes England. The plan is hopeful, though not yet finalized.
The Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, tragically causing seventy-two deaths, heightened concerns about cladding. It’s important to note that Grenfell used different cladding than what’s found in Bristol.
Tom Renhard explained that the initial plan, approved in 2023, spanned ten years. He indicated that extra national funding could significantly expedite the removal process.
