Improving Cour du Parc fire safety could cost £500,000

Cladding and insulation is being replaced on the 10-floor tower block in Charroterie after it was found to be less fire-safe than advertised by the supplier 10 years ago.

‘We don’t know exactly what it’s going to cost at the moment. It is unlikely to be less than £500,000,’ said Steve Williams, chief executive of the Guernsey Housing Association, which runs the flats.

Insulation standards were reviewed following the Grenfell disaster, in which 72 people died in a fire at a tower block in London in 2017. Insulation at Cour du Parc was changed from low fire risk to medium fire risk.

The GHA originally hoped to carry out the work this spring, but may face slight delays.

‘We’re putting the specification together so the project can be properly tendered in a transparent way,’ said Mr Williams.

‘I would still hope we could do it in late spring.

‘It’s taking a little bit of time to get everything together. I’m pushing the team and we should definitely be doing it by the summer.’

Mr Williams said it was increasingly challenging to find companies interested in that type of work.

‘It has been tortuous, very challenging. A lot of advisers, architects, surveyors and engineers have pulled out of tower block-type work for insurance reasons.

‘It has become a very expensive and tortuous area to get professional indemnity insurance. Part of the problem has just been getting hold of people prepared to do it, even to put a specification together.’

The GHA is not required to carry out the work but does not want to leave its tenants living in a building at medium fire risk.

The association took on Cour du Parc from the States more than 10 years ago. It extensively upgraded the flats, including installing Kingspan K15 insulation on the outside of the structure to make it warmer and drier.

Mr Williams expects the whole tower block to need scaffolding.

Tenants can remain in their homes while the work is being carried out.

Steve Williams interview, page 14