Wates halts £1.5bn London high-rise project over second staircase rule

3/7/23

Wates has paused work on a high-rise site in Havering over what it has called “continued regulatory uncertainty” over the requirement for two staircases on all new residential buildings over 30 metres.

The contractor had been developing the Waterloo and Queen Street site in Romford in a joint venture (JV) with Havering Council. The project (pictured) received planning approval in 2021 to develop at least 3,500 new homes in the area over 12 to 15 years, in blocks with single staircases. The project was worth £1.5bn.

The JV said in a statement: “As we are at an early point in the construction process, we have taken an opportunity to pause while we get a better understanding of what new regulations will mean and to update the design to include a second staircase.

“Both parties remain firmly committed to delivering these new homes as part of their partnership. The aim of the JV is to double the amount of high-quality affordable housing available for local people – we are working together to establish the best route forward.”

Pressure has long been growing for a nationwide requirement to ensure at least two staircases for all residential high-rises above 30 metres. In February, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan made second staircases a legal requirement in London.

In March, Dame Judith Hackitt, chair of the Industry Safety Steering Group and author of the report looking into 2017's Grenfell Tower tragedy, warned that firms building high-rises with single staircases were "betraying" residents.

Following Sadiq Khan’s decision, Adam West, director at architecture practice CZWG, said it was likely that existing projects with permission “will need to go back to planning”.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, meanwhile, completed a 12-week consultation in March on updating the current rules, including a proposal that residential buildings above 30 metres should have two staircases.

The department said at the time that it was “concerned that some tall residential buildings are being designed with a single staircase without due consideration by the designers on the level of safety provided”.

Scotland has required a second staircase since 2019 for buildings above 18 metres (about seven storeys).

Source; Construction News