The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase One report, published in October 2019, made a series of recommendations to the Government and emergency services, including the London Fire Brigade.
Earlier this month, London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe updated the London Assembly Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee on the Brigade’s progress in this area.
He raised the importance of the Government implementing the following two recommendations:
- Recommendation 32 – Legislate to require building owners to prepare Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for all residents whose ability to self-evacuate may be compromised.
- Recommendation 33 – Legislate to require building owners to include information about residents with reduced mobility in the premises information box.
In response, the Committee has today written to Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, asking for clarification on the Government’s plans to progress the two recommendations.
Chairman of the Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee, Susan Hall AM, said:
“The Committee welcomes last week’s announcement by the Government that leaseholders will be protected from having to pay for correcting historic fire safety issues in their buildings.
“Londoners should not carry the costs of fixing dangerous buildings, just as they should not be saddled with ruinous cladding bills running into the tens of thousands – particularly at a time of rising living costs.
“All Londoners should feel safe in their own homes, yet London Fire Brigade data shows more than 1,100 high-rise residential buildings in London currently have simultaneous evacuation policies in place.
“The London Fire Commissioner expressed to the Committee the importance of firefighters immediately knowing where vulnerable Londoners live in a building in a time of crisis. His concerns highlight why it is essential that building owners are preparing Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for the most vulnerable in the highest risk buildings.”
Related documents
READ the letter to DLUHC
Notes to editors
- The letter is attached.
- Susan Hall AM, Chairman of the Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Emma Bowden in the Assembly Media Office on 07849 303897. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.