Nottingham to pursue high rise sprinklers

Nottingham City Council and Nottingham City Homes are to go ahead with the installation of sprinklers in all 13 residential high rise blocks that they own in the city, despite a lack of government support.

The council will pursue the government to cover the costs as it promised to shortly after the Grenfell Tower fire, but will persevere with plans to spend £8.5 million on fire sprinkler installation in each flat, and in all communal areas, as well as upgrading intercom and tannoy systems.

The programme is scheduled to begin in March.

Jane Urquhart, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Heritage, said: “Following the Grenfell disaster, we carried out fire safety audits in all of our high rise blocks with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue and tenant representatives. The clear conclusion was that we needed to fit sprinklers in communal areas and flats, as well as upgrading or installing intercom and tannoy systems, to keep residents as safe as possible. We took Government at their word when they said financial constraints would not prevent such work being carried out – but so far they appear to be going back on that promise. We will continue to urge them to help us fund this vital work, so that we don’t have to alter, delay or stop other housing improvements, but in the meantime we are pressing ahead with these safety improvements.”