Residents in Freesia Lodge, Harold Wood, learned this week that their block received a B1 EWS1, removing any requirements for costly remediation works.

Julia Lopez MP has been supporting Kings Park estate residents to navigate cladding and fire safety challenges in the wake of the Grenfell fire in 2017. Given the variety across the estate, with buildings of differing heights, with differing materials and managed by different companies, leaseholders across the estate have often faced varied challenges which Julia and her team are working to address with relevant stakeholders.

In the case of Freesia Lodge, residents had expressed concerns at inconsistencies between the reports provided for Freesia Lodge and Bell Flower Lodge when the same cladding materials were present on each building. Julia Lopez MP highlighted those inconsistencies with the managing agent for clarification with the assessor however those concerns were initially rebuffed.

After being provided with copies of Julia's correspondence with the agent, the original developer of the property, Countryside Properties, advised it would provide additional information to assist in a review of the original assessment and would fund an independent review if one was not provided.

Earlier this week residents of Freesia Lodge and Julia Lopez MP received confirmation that the review had been completed and found that the fire risk was 'sufficiently low that no remedial works are required'.

Commenting, Julia said 'I have been engaging with leaseholders in Freesia Lodge since October when concerns at the EWS1 and related Fire Risk Assessments were brought to my attention. I am glad that, working with residents, we have been able to secure this outcome.

As more blocks from the Kings Park estate free themselves from remediation requirements I am mindful of those leaseholders in other blocks that have not yet reached this point. My team and I are in regular contact with the Minister for Building Safety and officials at the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in relation to outstanding issues. I will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders and will update constituents on this work as soon as possible.'