Block evacuated after ‘significant’ fire safety defects discovered

Home Group moves residents into hotels after discovering the need for “significant remedial works”.

Residents at Riverside Place in Braintree, owned by Home Group, have been told to leave their homes after an extensive survey uncovered fire safety defects.

Details of the defects were not disclosed by Home Group but the association said customer safety is always its “paramount concern”. The development was only recently built.

Matt Forrest, executive director of operations at Home Group, said: “During one of [our] routine checks, and a subsequent extensive survey, it became clear that significant remedial works are needed at our Riverside Place properties.
“We have been working very closely with Essex Fire Service and have put extensive safety measures in place whilst we carried out our checks. We have kept our customers informed throughout this process.

“These investigations showed that to complete the work required to bring the building to a safety standard that we are satisfied with, unfortunately, we will have to move our customers out of the building. We are aware that this will cause them significant disruption to their day-to-day lives.
“It is not a decision that we have come to lightly. However, our customers’ safety is, and always will be, our paramount concern. We will continue to engage with them every step of the way.”
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The Braintree & Witham Times reported that residents have been moved into hotels.

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