Living in high rise buildings
Does Bradford Council own or manage any high rise buildings in the Bradford district?
The Council transferred all of its social housing to Incommunities (formerly Bradford Community Housing Trust) in 2003. Incommunities are a not for profit registered housing provider which continues to own and manage all former council housing in Bradford. This includes a number of high rise properties. High rise properties are buildings that are more than 18 metres or six storeys high.
However, the Council still retains the freehold interest in three residential high rise buildings, where ground leases have been granted. This is where the Council has granted a long ground lease (say a 150 years) to a developer to build a property and this is now owned by an investor, who is responsible for the building structure and will directly manage the building and any lettings.
These are the Wardley Centre - providing student accommodation managed by Sanctuary Housing, where it has been confirmed that the cladding is not aluminium, Ivebridge House on Market Street, which has no cladding - and Landmark House, on Broadway. Landmark House is a multi-use seven storey high building in the city centre which has a combination of retail units, offices and apartments which did have aluminium cladding but this has now been removed.
Since 2010 the Council has developed and now owns a small amount of new council housing but none of this is in high rise buildings.
We have what is called a Fire Protection Concordat with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and Incommunities. The concordat was reviewed in 2017, and outlines the approach taken to ensure fire safety in the high rise properties that Incommunities own and manage.
What are you doing as a result of the Grenfell Tower fire?
We, along with our partners, have already taken a number of actions to reassure concerned residents that our highest priority always has been and always will be their safety.
We will also continue to work with the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service on reviewing our policies and practices in light of any information and learning from the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Do you have concerns about any cladding on high rise buildings in the district?
The building owners of Landmark House, which is seven storeys high and is situated in Broadway in Bradford city centre, was originally identified as having aluminium cladding. Those responsible for the building have worked with the Council and the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and this cladding has now been safely removed and replaced with a new material that is compliant with current Building Regulations.
How are you working with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS)?
We have a very good working relationship with WYFRS. A Fire Protection Policy has been agreed between WYFRS and all the West Yorkshire Councils which outlines the enforcement responsibilities for high rise properties regardless of ownership.
The Council Leader, Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe and the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, have spoken to the Chief of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, John Roberts, to discuss what joint actions can be taken in Bradford to ensure fire safety and keep residents safe in their homes.
We will continue to work with WYFRS to review policies and practices to reflect recommendations made following the outcome of any investigation, official government advice and public inquiry called by the Prime Minister.
How are you working with the UK government on fire safety in high rises?
We are co-operating fully with the UK government as part of its nationwide inquiry and providing any information that they require from us and our partners.
We will continue to review policies and practices to reflect recommendations made following the outcome of any investigation, official government advice and public inquiry called by the Prime Minister.
What is the council doing for private sector owned high rise buildings?
We will continue to work with building owners and managers to ensure that residents are as safe as they can be.
Will you be providing any further information to tenants living in high rise buildings?
If you are a tenant living in a high rise building in Bradford you should first contact your landlord for their advice regarding the accommodation that you are living in.
We will continue to work with Incommunities, WYFRS and other partners to ensure that information is made available to residents.
As new information becomes available or questions asked, we will be updating this page.