Northpoint in Bromley: Residents start campaign for cladding action

Residents in Northpoint, a converted office block in Sherman Road, are banding together with similarly affected private blocks from across the county to urge ministers to work quicker under the newly formed UK Cladding Action Group (@ukcag).

Taylor Wimpey, the developer which sold the freehold in 2007, said it has no responsibility or ownership for the building. while current freeholder Citistead is holding back and putting responsibility with the government.

The council, which has been given powers by the government to carry out works and bill building owners, says it is awaiting further guidance before moving forward.

People living in Northpoint say they have hit a dead end, with the new action group a last resort to getting their voices heard.

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Ritu Saha, who lives in Northpoint, said: “We are completely frustrated. We have really reached the end of the rope trying to speak to ministers on an individual basis. It feels like they think they can sweep this under the carpet.

“It has been 21 months since Grenfell and we have not had any action on private blocks where the private developers are not willing to pay. Trying to appeal to developers’ moral responsibility has not helped any of the buildings and many of us are on the verge of bankruptcy.”

Northpoint is a 10-storey block of 57 flats, lined with the most dangerous type of cladding, racking up bills of upwards of £70k for residents.

UK Cladding Action has the backing of residents at developments in London, Manchester and Sheffield. According to new figures, only 10 of more than 170 private buildings with dangerous cladding have been repaired.

“We have to make a stand,” Mrs Saha said. “Forming an action group seems the only way forward for people in a situation they have had no hand in creating.”

Northpoint residents have become ill with stress – facing huge bills for their building to be brought up to scratch, along with the costs of a compulsory 24/7 waking watch.

The climbing costs are forcing some residents into arrears, and as a “right to manage” building, neighbours now face difficult decisions over taking those struggling to keep up with the bills to county court.

Mrs Saha, 43, said: “We are falling into a debt spiral. More and more people are dropping out, who can’t keep up with the payments – the burden falls to those who can pay.

“The government announced that they would give local government funds, but nothing has been released. Apart from getting together and announcing our voices we don’t know what other option we have.”

Colin Smith, the leader of Bromley Council, said the authority has written to the communities secretary about Northpoint.

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“Officers have since met with Government officials to discuss this worrying matter further, as it clearly remains of very serious concern to everybody involved.

“We are aware that the secretary of state is continuing to examine the situation extremely closely and remain hopeful that positive news will emerge at the earliest possible opportunity to help move the situation forward to a satisfactory resolution.  We have been in regular contact with residents and met residents most recently, last week.

“Apart from resolving the very difficult issue about finance, we have requested the expertise of the Government’s joint inspection team as soon as they are available so that this important matter can be moved forwards.”

The ministry of housing, communities and local government is aware that the pace to repair private buildings is too slow.

A spokesman said: “We have been abundantly clear that private building owners and developers must replace dangerous cladding quickly, or they will pay more later.

“Leaseholders must be protected from these costs which is why we have put new enforcement powers in place to allow local authorities to take action where it is necessary.”