Dudley Council Ordered to Conduct Safety Checks on Tower Blocks After Failing Inspections
Dudley Council has been mandated to carry out vital safety checks on three blocks of flats after the Health and Safety Executive's Building Safety Regulator refused to issue building assessment certificates. Enforcement notices have been served for Kennedy Court and Baylie Court in Stourbridge, along with Tenbury House in Halesowen, due to insufficient safety inspections.
Regulator Criticizes Inadequate Assessments
The regulator concluded that the council had not completed adequate inspections and, in some cases, based assessments on different buildings. For Baylie Court, a notice from building safety regulator Jordan Sugrue stated that the assessment of building safety risks, particularly from fire spread, was not suitable and sufficient. Only a visual inspection of compartmentation had been conducted, which is inadequate for a building over 60 years old.
The Safety Case Report failed to provide sufficient evidence that compartmentation standards support a stay-put evacuation strategy. Additionally, the council's assessment of structural failure risk was condemned, as it relied on a visual survey limited to ground and first-floor levels and did not identify key structural elements.
Similar Concerns Across Multiple Blocks
Similar issues were raised for Kennedy Court, where compartmentation assessment was limited to visual inspection and original construction knowledge. For Tenbury House, the council failed to undertake an assessment of structural failure risks, with information based on Malvern House, a similar block on the same estate. Fire safety assessments were also deemed insufficient, relying on data from Malvern House.
Council Response and Actions Taken
Councillor Phil Atkins, Dudley cabinet member for development and regulation, acknowledged the notices, stating they were served under new legislation and reflect a widespread national issue. He emphasized that the buildings are not in a dangerous state but require additional surveys. The council's cabinet held a closed-door meeting to urgently approve hiring a specialist contractor for compliant surveys, a decision later rubber-stamped by the full council on March 2.
A Dudley Council spokesperson noted that early survey feedback has not identified immediate problems, attributing the issues to evolving criteria over the past twelve months. The council has conducted all statutory inspections, and new tests do not indicate non-compliance. Cllr Atkins reassured tenants that buildings are safe and the council is working quickly to comply with the regulator, promising to address any improvement works identified.
Compliance Deadlines and Costs
Dudley Council has until April 6 to comply with fire safety notices and July 6 for structural safety notices. The cost of the new surveys has not been disclosed due to commercial sensitivity, as the council moves forward with enhanced safety measures to meet regulatory standards.
