Residents in Blackthorn House, Harold Wood, received confirmation earlier this month that their block had received a B1 EWS1 assessment, freeing them from requirements for costly remediation works.

This welcome step follows an independent review, conducted by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), into Fire Risk Appraisal of External Wall construction (FRAEW) reports of six blocks on the Harold Wood estate. Julia had been lobbying the Department to intervene and consider the reports after residents in four blocks received notices of estimates for works. While such notices had not been issued to two other blocks, including Blackthorn House, FRAEWs had recommended remediation.

In May, the Department notified Julia's office of the review outcome, finding that none of the recommended works to the six blocks were considered reasonable or proportionate. The Department recommended that the reports be returned to their original authors for review.

Julia has twice interacted with managing agents this month to ensure that the reviews are not subject to any undue delay and it was via this engagement that we learned this week that the review for Blackthorn House had already been issued, with a B1 rating. This means that the 'fire risk is sufficiently low that no remedial works are required' and with this news leaseholders within the block will be able to re-mortgage or sell their property.

Blackthorn House has become the seventh block across the Harold Wood estate to be freed from remediation requirements following Freesia Lodge, Bell Flower Lodge and four blocks managed by London & Quadrant with a collective 315 households. While Julia very much welcomes this news, her office continues to liaise closely with the remaining five blocks within DLUHC's report to ensure that their FRAEWs are reviewed as swiftly as possible. In the event that remediation works are still recommended, DLUHC have committed to again review the reports and Julia will assist leaseholders in this if necessary.