Updated: 27 June

Over the weekend, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) announced a 100% failure rate of fire safety checks carried out on samples of cladding.

Councils from across the country have been asked to submit cladding they suspect is “possible Aluminium Composite Material” – the type of material found to have been used on Grenfell Tower – to be tested.

• As no council-owned housing block in Barking and Dagenham has this type of cladding, we have not been required to submit a sample. However, as four of our blocks have a different type of cladding, we have instructed an independent company to carry out their own inspections of these blocks as an extra reassurance to residents. These inspections are underway.

Since the tragic incident in Kensington and Chelsea on 14 June, the council has been focused on taking every possible step to reassure residents.

We can confirm:

• Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding has not been used on any council-owned housing block in Barking and Dagenham.
• Four housing blocks have cladding – Oldmead House, Bartlett House, Mersea House, and Colne House – however, this is not the same type used on Grenfell Tower and is fitted in a different way. These blocks will be subject to the independent inspections mentioned above.
• We have revisited all fire risk assessments for tower blocks that are eight storeys or above where the assessment was done more than three months ago.

A programme of inspections into the cladding used on other types of building in the borough is also underway.

Housing officers are continuing to check residential blocks of six storeys and above to ensure communal areas are clear of anything that could create a fire hazard or block escape routes. We appreciate residents’ cooperation with this work as it is really important.

The council is working with London Fire Brigade to ensure our residents have the most up-to-date advice on fire safety. Check the latest advice: London Fire Brigade – Know the plan.