Bradford building fails Government fire safety test in wake of Grenfell Tower disaster

Bradford City Council announced this morning that Landmark House in Broadway had failed the test after a sample of cladding on the building was sent off.

The seven storey building contains 91 flats as well as shops and commercial units on the ground floor and vacant office space on the first floor.

Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: “Following the terrible Grenfell Tower tragedy, we have made it our immediate priority to check the risk in high rise accommodation and ensure that the housing landlords give all relevant information about their stock to the Government.

“The owners of Landmark House, which is seven storeys high and is situated in Broadway in Bradford city centre, have been advised that the building has failed a Government fire safety test on its cladding after a sample was sent off."

The council's housing and building control staff immediately met with the fire service, the owner and the management company to further assess the situation.

Coun Hinchcliffe said: "We have been advised that there is no need to immediately evacuate the premises. The landlord will engage with the tenants so they fully understand how to proceed in the event of a fire and ensure all the fire procedure notices are accurate.

“Residents all have smoke alarms present in their flats which they need to check are working on a regular basis. There is also a common alarm system which if activated, triggers a full evacuation."

She said there would be increased surveillance and all residents were being informed about the safety measures.

"We understand that residents will be obviously concerned about this news but we have offered to facilitate a meeting in City Hall for residents and this is likely to take place next week," she said.

“The Chief Executive has liaised with the Department for Communities and Local Government who confirm that we are acting in accordance with their guidance and they are satisfied with the action being taken.”

The council worked with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service following the Grenfell Tower disaster in London last month.

It said they had prioritised buildings of six storeys and above, which are the tallest in the district.

As well as working with social housing landlords, the council said it had also written to the owners and managers of tall private sector buildings to tell them about the free Government testing programme.