Kingston Council Commits £2.9 Million to Fire Safety Overhaul
Kingston Council in South West London has allocated an extra £2.9 million to address nearly 1,000 high-priority fire safety works identified in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The council aims to complete all 935 outstanding actions by next year, ensuring residents live in safer, well-maintained homes.
Contract Awarded to Accelerate Remedial Works
The council's Corporate and Resources Committee has approved a new 12-month contract with construction firm Quinn London, valued at up to £2.2 million, to expedite the remaining fire safety measures. This contract is part of the total £2.9 million budget set aside for these critical works.
Following a comprehensive assessment of its entire housing stock after the government's post-Grenfell building safety law reforms, Kingston Council identified over 4,100 necessary actions. These include replacing fire doors, installing fire alarms, conducting building repairs, and upgrading emergency lighting systems.
Progress and Priorities in Fire Safety Compliance
A recent council report highlighted excellent progress in completing these works, with all critical items already addressed. However, 935 actions out of the original 4,139 remain outstanding. The new contract with Quinn London is designed to facilitate the quickest possible completion of these remedial actions.
The report emphasized that continuing with Quinn London leverages the contractor's deep understanding of the council's housing stock and the specific works required for compliance. Quinn has consistently demonstrated a capable approach to delivering a fully managed, end-to-end fire safety service since entering an agreement with the council in 2023.
Council Leadership Emphasizes Safety Commitment
Lib Dem Council Leader Andreas Kirsch expressed strong support for the initiative, stating, "I'm really glad that we are doing this work... given the tragic events in Grenfell, obviously fire safety has improved since then and we are upgrading our fire safety to the highest standard, so I'm really happy that we are doing this."
Upon completion of all high-priority works by the end of next year, Kingston Council plans to return to routine monitoring and inspection protocols. This significant investment underscores the council's organizational priority to ensure resident safety and compliance with enhanced building regulations.
