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Tower twice as high as Grenfell planned nearby with only one stairway

A proposal sketch of the development near Westfield in west London. Developers initially wanted one tower to have 45 storeys but have now revised this after criticism
A proposal sketch of the development near Westfield in west London. Developers initially wanted one tower to have 45 storeys but have now revised this to 35 (Picture: Hammersmith and Fulham Planning Department/ Westfield)

Developers are seeking to build a 35-storey residential block with only one staircase less than a mile from Grenfell Tower.

The new tower is proposed for one of the remaining development sites at Westfield London, near White City.

It would be around twice the height of Grenfell, the tower where fire broke out in 2017 killing 72 people.

A campaign group representing the survivors and the bereaved say they are shocked to see a tower this high being considered with only escape staircase so close to the tragedy.

Like Grenfell, the safety calculations for the tower are based on the ‘stay put’ strategy which rely on the building being well enough designed to stop the fire spreading beyond the unit it broke out.

Current regulations allow for tall buildings to have only one staircase, but the government is reviewing the rules on escape routes ‘to ensure residents are safe in the event of a fire’.

Grenfell United, a group representing the survivors and bereaved, told the Guardian: ‘After half a decade of campaigning for safer homes, it’s shocking to hear that a new tower block, a stone’s throw from Grenfell, rigged with a fire safety defect before it’s even been built, is being planned.’

The new tower, around 130 metres high, would be just over 600 metres from 67.3 metre Grenfell if planning permission is approved following a formal application.

Grenfell Tower pictured earlier this month
The nearby Grenfell Tower pictured earlier this month (Picture: Rex)

It will be part of a development which includes a second tower block also with just one staircase.

Last week, plans for a 51-storey tower block in east London by Ballaway with a single stairway were put on hold after fire safety experts criticised the design.

Many countries have stricter rules than the UK when it comes to staircases in tall towers. In the US, a second staircase is required in any building higher than four storeys. In Germany and Switzerland, any building higher than 60 metres must have a second stairway.

One concern is that if there is a single staircase, people evacuating can be prevented by firefighters trying to climb up to help others still inside, and vice versa.

If one staircase ends up blocked or clogged with smoke, it also means there is not an alternative.

The developer is Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), a global company which owns Westfield shopping centres.

They said they want to ‘increase the densification of exceptional and highly connected retail destinations by adding offices, residential, hotels and other uses’.

Planning permission has already been granted for 1,100 homes in buildings of up to 23 storeys, however the developer says that since this was agreed in 2014 the area has ‘undergone significant change’ and they now want to ‘enhance’ the proposals.

Westfield London Shopping Centre, Shepherds Bush
The proposals are being put forward by the owner of Westfield shopping centre (Picture: Getty)

A website setting out the ambition says the plans ‘meet all required building fire safety protocols’.

‘We are also working closely with the local authority planning department and in consultation with the London Fire Brigade to ensure the Application is in line with regulations,’ the company said.

They said the plans include ‘sprinklers to all residential homes, 100% non-combustible materials in the facades and protected emergency escape routes, safe evacuation and egress strategies, and emergency stair smoke extract ventilation.

A spokesperson for URW said: ‘Building safety is a key priority for any of our developments and as part of the design process we have engaged a fire engineer to ensure that access and egress arrangements for fire brigades and occupants satisfies the London Plan guidelines and meet all required building safety protocols.

‘We also work very closely with the local authority planning department, who in turn work with the London fire brigade directly to ensure applications are in line with regulations. In addition, our buildings have other mitigation measures in place including sprinklers throughout the buildings and the use of 100% non-combustible facades.’

A spokesperson for the planning authority, London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, said: ‘The safety of residents is our number one priority.

‘We take a tough line with developers to ensure that anything they build is fully compliant with all safety and other regulations as a minimum, and that local people are fully consulted.’

A fire brigade spokesperson said they would be providing a response to the planning consultation.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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