Croydon issues funding warning to government

The first council retrofitting sprinklers since the Grenfell tragedy has warned that councils face an ‘unprecedented funding gap’ in improving tower block fire safety unless the government helps them pay for it.

Croydon Council has asked for a meeting with the housing minister to discuss the ‘long-term financial burden’ of implementing its £10 million sprinkler programme without funding help.

The Department for Communities and Local Government has twice refused to either contribute towards Croydon’s programme to retrofit sprinklers in 26 of its tallest residential tower blocks or relax council borrowing powers.

The council’s deputy leader has now written a third letter to minister Alok Sharma MP requesting money towards Croydon’s sprinkler programme, adding that rejecting councils investing in fire safety improvements post-Grenfell would only worsen the situation.

Croydon was the first council in the country after the Grenfell fire to announce it would pay for and install sprinklers in residents’ individual flats as part of its response.

Alison Butler, deputy leader and cabinet member for homes, regeneration and planning, said: “Croydon’s fire safety programme will cost £10 million from our Housing Revenue Account, placing a significant long-term financial burden on other ring-fenced council projects.

“Croydon may be the first council to invest in urgent measures post-Grenfell, but we recognise that others have far more homes. In London alone, many are also still tackling cladding issues under your department’s instruction. Therefore, the full cost will not become clear for months to come, if not years.

“Without your help to provide extra funding, local authorities like Croydon that take the initiative on post-Grenfell fire safety in both council and private housing face an unprecedented funding gap.”