Members at the Norbiton based FBU have written to London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, and the leader of Bromley Council, Colin Smith.
They are calling on the GLA to direct the authority to prevent construction until plans for the block meet, in their words, the “highest standards of building safety.”
Since the plans for the Blenheim Shopping Centre were first proposed in 2022, the law has changed requiring any new residential buildings in England more than 18m (59ft) to have two staircases installed.
The FBU claims developers lowered the height of the building by just 30cm below the threshold which is not “ethically justified.”
We’ve contacted Bromley Council for comment.
Fire Brigades Union general secretary Steve Wright said:
“This is an attempt to cut corners and get around the building safety regulations introduced to avoid a repeat of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
“If the development goes ahead in its current form, residents of this property will only have one staircase which they can use to evacuate. This could cost lives.
“It’s vital that Sadiq Khan uses his powers to block this attempt to circumvent the safety improvements that were introduced in the wake of the Grenfell fire.”
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The safety of Londoners is the Mayor’s top priority and everyone deserves the right to live in a safe home. The application was found to be compliant with London Plan policies on fire safety and the Mayor was content for Bromley Council to determine the application itself. While these polices are strict and comprehensive, we aware of the FBU’s concerns and hope FBU and Bromley can meet and find a solution that all parties are happy with. The Mayor continues working to tackle the housing crisis and build a better, safer London for all.”
