Brighton: Residents fear cladding which causes fire risk

Jamie Gunn has lived in Sheffield Court in Brighton’s City Point for 15 years. The development failed fire safety checks in 2021 in the wake of the Grenfell fire.

The flats, of which there are approximately 220, are reinforced by an EPS-insulated render system on the external wall which contains polystyrene and has been reported as a fire risk.

Many of them are surrounded by rotting wooden fences.

Jamie, who is on the committee of the City Point Residents’ Association, has been battling the flats’ management company First Port to make the development safe for residents.

Jamie stood in front of the grey external cladding at the top of the building (Image: The Argus)

Jamie, 56, said: “We want answers. We want to know what’s going on.

“People are worried and scared. It makes a very depressing and oppressive atmosphere.

“Now is the time to push and try and get some changes.”

Millie Windsor, 34, has also been living in a flat on Kingscote Way for two-and-a-half years with her seven-year-old son.

A date has still not been confirmed for the removal of the material (Image: The Argus)

Millie said: “There are vulnerable people living here. People that are old and infirm, people in wheelchairs.

“It’s all well and good to say the work will be done. When?

“These buildings are all close together. What happens when one catches on fire?

“Saving money is at the detriment of our lives. Our lives are in the hands of Barratt and First Port. It’s sick.”

The development also has a commercial area including shops and a cafe (Image: The Argus)

Millie also reported that some of the flats are used as AirBnBs and says she has seen guests lighting barbecues on the balconies.

She said: “They have no idea. It’s frightening. I think ‘You’re going to kill us’.”

“Lives could be ended from the lack of communication.”

Jamie and Millie say they have been asking to see the fire safety report since September, but feel it is being “hidden” from them.

Residents fear that 'lives could be ended' (Image: The Argus)

There is currently no communal fire alarm system in place, meaning someone is employed to be on watch around the clock to raise the alarm in the instance of a fire.

Jamie has also been liaising with East Sussex Fire and Rescue on advice provided by First Port as he says they are often given “mixed messages”, for example he was asked to get rid of the shed in his front garden due to the risk it posed, but the fire service recommended he just keep it locked.

Residents have been sent letters by First Port asking them to remove items from their front garden due to the fire risk, which Millie said has led to threats of being in breach of the lease and at risk of fines if refused.

Additionally, Jamie said City Point residents are paying hundreds of pounds in service charges including insurance annually.

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A spokeswoman for First Port said: “The safety and wellbeing of residents at City Point is our foremost priority. We have been working closely with Barratt to ensure they adhere to their remediation obligations at the development.

“The remediation project at City Point has commenced, with all investigatory works to identify the scope of the remediation required complete.

“Barratt can now undertake the next steps needed to progress the project and all parties are working to ensure the buildings are remediated appropriately.

“We continue to provide support and regular updates to residents, with all key information made available to them.”

A spokeswoman for Barratt, the developer who is managing the building remediation, said: “We are sorry to hear about the challenges facing residents at City Point in Brighton.

“In line with our obligations under the Building Safety Pledge and Developer Remediation Contract, we are committed to resolving any fire safety issues at the development, at no cost to leaseholders.

“Unfortunately, the remedial process is long and complex, and will take time.

“We are currently paying for the waking watch on site, despite having no legal liability to do so, and are working to get a new fire alarm system installed, and the cladding replaced, as quickly as we can.”