The Mayor of London and Bromley Council have been called upon to cease plans for a residential building that the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has labeled as “unsafe” in southeast London.
In a correspondence addressed to Sir Sadiq Khan, the FBU expressed concerns over the proposed 16-story structure at the former Blenheim shopping center in Penge, warning it poses a threat of a “fire safety catastrophe” due to having only one staircase as an escape route.
The developer, Hadley Clarion, contended that the project aligns “completely with the latest construction regulations and fire safety protocols” after recently lowering the proposed tower’s height and having received planning approval from Bromley Council.
City Hall stated that the mayor is confident the plans meet “compliance requirements.”
In an open letter spearheaded by fire safety advocates, FBU General Secretary Steve Wright has urged the Greater London Authority (GLA) to halt the development until the plans adhere to the “highest standards of building safety.”
Wright accused the developers of trying to “bypass” planning regulations by modifying the building’s height to just 30 cm (12 inches) below the limit for structures featuring single staircases.
“This move appears to be a way to sidestep important building safety regulations intended to prevent tragedies like the Grenfell Tower fire,” Mr. Wright asserted.
“If this development proceeds as it is, future residents will have only one staircase to rely on during an evacuation, which could endanger lives.”
A representative from Hadley Clarion remarked that the building design has been revised twice to align with “changing legislation.”
The Blenheim Square project will involve demolishing the existing shopping center to create 230 residential units, including 73 affordable homes, along with commercial space.
Since the project’s initiation in 2022, new legislation was enacted mandating that any new residential development in England taller than 18 meters (59 feet) must incorporate two staircases for fire escapes—a measure prompted by the 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster.
Original plans for one of the blocks, which was designed to be six stories high at 18.74 meters (about 61 feet) with a single staircase, were revised down to a height of 17.7 meters.
Despite ongoing fire safety concerns from the London Fire Brigade, Bromley Council granted approval for the project in March 2024.
While the Mayor of London has the authority to intervene in local planning decisions, his office indicated that the application was assessed as “compliant with London Plan fire safety policies,” and the mayor was “satisfied” for Bromley Council to decide on the proposal.
A spokesperson from City Hall added, “We acknowledge the FBU’s concerns and encourage a meeting between the FBU and Bromley to explore a solution that satisfies all parties involved.”
Furthermore, the Hadley Clarion spokesperson pointed out, “With London grappling with its most significant housing crisis in generations, leading to record numbers in temporary accommodations—especially in Bromley—regeneration projects like Blenheim Square are precisely what the city needs.”
