Large panel system high-rise building safety

We have been contacting residents living in the 8 council-owned large panel system (LPS) high-rise blocks in the city. There are important building safety updates following a series of recent structural surveys.

The 8 council blocks in Brighton & Hove are:

• Dudeney Lodge and Nettleton Court in Hollingdean
• Falcon Court, Heron Court, Kestrel Court, Kingfisher Court and Swallow Court in north Whitehawk
• St James's House in Kemptown

Structural survey findings

As part of our responsibilities under the Building Safety Act 2022 and Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, we recently commissioned detailed structural surveys on the buildings.

Download the preliminary structural survey reports.

Independent consultants carried out observational and intrusive surveying. They found that the buildings do not meet the current safety standards, in relation to their ability to resist a disproportionate collapse in the case of an explosion or large fire. 

We're working with our consultants on the final versions of the reports and will publish those in early September.

There is no immediate danger to the buildings. Measures such as bans on gas canisters and barbecues have long been in place.

We've acted on the advice of our independent consultants and taken additional safety measures.

The previous structural surveys of our LPS buildings took place in June 2019. They found that the buildings then had no issues, and were in good structural condition.

Your home contents insurance should not be affected by the findings of the structural surveys. 

Risks to the buildings

While it remains low, the risk would come from an explosion associated with pressurised gas - such as that found in gas bottles or cylinders. There are no mains gas supplies in the buildings for heating or cooking. This significantly reduces the risk of an explosion.

Residents are not allowed to store portable oil or bottled gas appliances, or any other dangerous or flammable items, in their homes or communal areas. This is set out in the tenancy agreement.

There isn’t a ban on oxygen cylinders where required for medical reasons. Residents must contact us to let us know if they have these.

View East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service's advice on the safe storage of oxygen cylinders.

Resident safety

Resident safety is our priority. We reassure you that we have acted on the advice of our independent consultants to secure the safety of the buildings for all residents.

We are not evacuating the buildings as there is no immediate danger. The structure is designed so that the flats are in separate compartments. The purpose of this is to contain fires or other hazards.

Our structural surveys show us that there is no danger from normal day-to-day living in the blocks.

Action we've taken so far

We have introduced a ban on e-bikes and e-scooters in the buildings. We put temporary storage facilities in place as a short-term measure and are now setting up secure storage with a power supply at each site. These should all be in place by early September. We insure the building, but it’s a tenant responsibility to insure their home contents and personal belongings.

We have put extra security staff in place to:

• carry out daily floor walks to maintain clear entrances and exit ways
• make sure items like gas cylinders and e-bikes are not brought into the building
• monitor and take action where needed to reduce any identified risk, including:
  • stopping vehicles parking in a restricted area
  • highlighting the issues with smoking in communal ways
  • deterring unwanted visitors

We have installed a temporary communal heating system at St James’s House, away from the building.

We are working with Cityclean to move bin stores under or within the blocks and make the new areas safe for residents to use. 

We are currently carrying out individual visits to all homes in the blocks to check for any risks and respond to any concerns you may have. This includes following up issues residents raised with us during the

We are continuing to work with the fire service and consultants on the measures we’re taking.

Fire safety information

Evacuation procedures

We recently inspected all 8 blocks with the fire service. They agreed that the current 'remain in place' policy is still the best advice for residents to follow.

The design safety measures to contain fires within a flat are still in place.

If there is a fire in your flat the advice is to get out, stay out, close the door behind you and phone the fire service on 999.

If the fire is somewhere else in the building, you can remain in your flat with the doors and windows closed, unless heat or smoke is affecting you. The fire service will tell you if you need to leave the building. However, if you feel uncomfortable and wish to leave, please do so.

Find more information about fire safety in council flats.

Smoke alarms

Each flat should have a dedicated smoke alarm to alert residents if a fire occurs. 

You should test any alarms in your home. If you don’t have a working smoke alarm, contact the Housing Customer Service Team on 01273 293 030.

Repairs

We will continue to provide our Repairs and Maintenance Service to all blocks. Residents should report any repairs as normal.

Request a repair.

Home safety checks

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service offer free home safety visits. They provide advice on safety in the home and reducing the risk of fire. They can also check and fit smoke alarms where appropriate.

Book a home safety visit.

What we will do next

We will provide regular updates to you on the situation and hold in person meetings. We'll be sending newsletters for residents in each block to provide regular updates.

We encourage you to share any ideas you have with us on how we can best communicate with you.

We continue to work on our plans to establish what happens to the 8 buildings in the longer term.

We will take a resident-led approach on the options for refurbishment or regeneration of each of the blocks. We will carry out full consultations with residents. We recognise these are your homes and we will make no decisions about you without you. 

Contact us

If you have questions or concerns, or there is something else we can help with, contact the Housing Customer Service Team on 01273 293 030.

We have been contacting residents living in the 8 council-owned large panel system (LPS) high-rise blocks in the city. There are important building safety updates following a series of recent structural surveys.

The 8 council blocks in Brighton & Hove are:

• Dudeney Lodge and Nettleton Court in Hollingdean
• Falcon Court, Heron Court, Kestrel Court, Kingfisher Court and Swallow Court in north Whitehawk
• St James's House in Kemptown

Structural survey findings

As part of our responsibilities under the Building Safety Act 2022 and Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, we recently commissioned detailed structural surveys on the buildings.

Download the preliminary structural survey reports.

Independent consultants carried out observational and intrusive surveying. They found that the buildings do not meet the current safety standards, in relation to their ability to resist a disproportionate collapse in the case of an explosion or large fire. 

We're working with our consultants on the final versions of the reports and will publish those in early September.

There is no immediate danger to the buildings. Measures such as bans on gas canisters and barbecues have long been in place.

We've acted on the advice of our independent consultants and taken additional safety measures.

The previous structural surveys of our LPS buildings took place in June 2019. They found that the buildings then had no issues, and were in good structural condition.

Your home contents insurance should not be affected by the findings of the structural surveys. 

Risks to the buildings

While it remains low, the risk would come from an explosion associated with pressurised gas - such as that found in gas bottles or cylinders. There are no mains gas supplies in the buildings for heating or cooking. This significantly reduces the risk of an explosion.

Residents are not allowed to store portable oil or bottled gas appliances, or any other dangerous or flammable items, in their homes or communal areas. This is set out in the tenancy agreement.

There isn’t a ban on oxygen cylinders where required for medical reasons. Residents must contact us to let us know if they have these.

View East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service's advice on the safe storage of oxygen cylinders.

Resident safety

Resident safety is our priority. We reassure you that we have acted on the advice of our independent consultants to secure the safety of the buildings for all residents.

We are not evacuating the buildings as there is no immediate danger. The structure is designed so that the flats are in separate compartments. The purpose of this is to contain fires or other hazards.

Our structural surveys show us that there is no danger from normal day-to-day living in the blocks.

Action we've taken so far

We have introduced a ban on e-bikes and e-scooters in the buildings. We put temporary storage facilities in place as a short-term measure and are now setting up secure storage with a power supply at each site. These should all be in place by early September. We insure the building, but it’s a tenant responsibility to insure their home contents and personal belongings.

We have put extra security staff in place to:

• carry out daily floor walks to maintain clear entrances and exit ways
• make sure items like gas cylinders and e-bikes are not brought into the building
• monitor and take action where needed to reduce any identified risk, including:
  • stopping vehicles parking in a restricted area
  • highlighting the issues with smoking in communal ways
  • deterring unwanted visitors

We have installed a temporary communal heating system at St James’s House, away from the building.

We are working with Cityclean to move bin stores under or within the blocks and make the new areas safe for residents to use. 

We are currently carrying out individual visits to all homes in the blocks to check for any risks and respond to any concerns you may have. This includes following up issues residents raised with us during the

We are continuing to work with the fire service and consultants on the measures we’re taking.

Fire safety information

Evacuation procedures

We recently inspected all 8 blocks with the fire service. They agreed that the current 'stay put' policy is still the best advice for residents to follow.

The design safety measures to contain fires within a flat are still in place.

If there is a fire in your flat the advice is to get out, stay out, close the door behind you and phone the fire service on 999.

If the fire is somewhere else in the building, you can stay in your flat with the doors and windows closed, unless heat or smoke is affecting you. The fire service will tell you if you need to leave the building. However, if you feel uncomfortable and wish to leave, please do so.

Find more information about fire safety in council flats.

Smoke alarms

Each flat should have a dedicated smoke alarm to alert residents if a fire occurs. 

You should test any alarms in your home. If you don’t have a working smoke alarm, contact the Housing Customer Service Team on 01273 293 030.

Repairs

We will continue to provide our Repairs and Maintenance Service to all blocks. Residents should report any repairs as normal.

Request a repair.

Home safety checks

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service offer free home safety visits. They provide advice on safety in the home and reducing the risk of fire. They can also check and fit smoke alarms where appropriate.

Book a home safety visit.

What we will do next

We will provide regular updates to you on the situation and hold in person meetings. We'll be sending newsletters for residents in each block to provide regular updates.

We encourage you to share any ideas you have with us on how we can best communicate with you.

We continue to work on our plans to establish the full extent of the work required. There have been no discussions on the future of the buildings at this point. Before we make any decisions on this there will be a full consultation with residents. You will have a variety of ways to provide your feedback.

Contact us

If you have questions or concerns, or there is something else we can help with, contact the Housing Customer Service Team on 01273 293 030.