The immediate closure of a landmark business building in Brighton was necessary because of “intolerable specific fire safety risks”, Brighton and Hove City Council said this afternoon (Saturday 9 November).
And officials are urgently trying to find fire marshals who can be deployed to New England House so that the tower block can reopen in the coming week.
Tenants of the building, in New England Street, Brighton, were emailed last night and told that they would not be able to use their units until at least Tuesday (12 November).
The council said: “Based on expert advice the council has identified intolerable specific fire safety risks at New England House that we cannot ignore.
“As a result, we have temporarily closed New England House with immediate effect for a short time while we put in place the necessary mitigations.
“This includes appointing fire wardens to be based in the building and we are currently sourcing them with the aim putting this measure in place by Tuesday 12 November. The building can then be reopened.
“The council will also be limiting the opening hours of New England House in future to ensure people are not in their business units late at night or overnight.”
The council’s corporate director for city services Donna Chisholm said: “We are truly sorry for the inconvenience and potential loss of income this temporary closure causes.
“The council is committed to ensuring the safety of everyone and are working diligently to reopen the building on Tuesday.
“We recognise the financial impact this may have and will of course offer compensation for specific losses if tenants can provide evidence.
“If you need access to New England House for essential reasons over the weekend or on Monday 11 November, there will be security on site to help arrange access via the main entrance.
“I completely appreciate that the timing of this and the short notice has had a disruptive impact on the many different businesses at New England House. We did not take this decision lightly and had to take immediate action due to the intolerable risks identified.
“We apologise for any upset this might cause and appreciate your understanding as we work to ensure the building is safe for everyone and can be reopened next week.”
The council added: “The power into the building has not been turned off and tenants can access their units to collect items and turn things off by agreement with the security guards on site.
“A meeting with the building’s tenants will be held next week, time and date to be confirmed, where the fire engineer’s report and the steps being taken to address the immediate risks will be discussed in detail. We will continue to provide our tenants with updated information.
“If tenants have any specific queries about the closure, they can email AMP@brighton-hove.gov.uk.”
To read our earlier story, click here.
Handled absolutely appallingly by the council. Shocking disregard for the businesses based in New England House, and the lack of information from the council about the extent of the problems is alarming. People have a right to know the full extent of the fire issue – yet the council have not shared this with people.
This article does not convey the amount of stress and distress that the council’s peremptory action has caused to all tenants in New England house.
Tenants were informed by email at 7.04 pm on Friday evening on an email list that did not include all tenants in the building, at a time when the building manager’s office was closed and there was no way of ensuring that all tenants of the 110 or so units had received the notice that the building was to be closed forthwith until further notice; such to be given, they hoped, on Monday 11th November. New England House tenants are mostly self-employed or with small businesses to run and work through the weekend and this has caused unquantifiable cost which is not just financial but also to reputation and future planning. There has been a total absence of information as to what the serious risk is and there has been no sign of any work or activity on the part of the council to remedy this since Friday evening, except for the provision of security officers who control tenants access to the units: access only allowed for a few minutes so that they can collect necessary possessions.
Brighton is a city known for its creative community – New England house has been at the heart of this for many years. Over 1000 people a day would come to work in the building but the impact of the closure affects many more as it has repercussions for the businesses involved, the employees and clients and their families.
Tenants obviously want to feel safe in their work premises, but the manner of the closure has not provided them with any information as to what the dangers actually are, why and how they were suddenly highlighted or what is being done to remedy the situation.
This is just typical of bhcc – inept and disjointed,
Not fit for purpose!
This doesn’t surprise me at all. I worked in this building for a couple of years. The fire alarms went off constantly & there were evacuations almost every week. I finished my shift once at 9.20pm, got in the lift & when we got stuck (it turned out due to a power cut), the emergency intercom respondent asked me where I was & told me to ring 999! Unless it has changed massively since I was last in it, the place is an antiquated fire trap. But that was the whole point of it. It was basically an old warehouse, with the most basic amenities, so it was cheap for start-up companies.
Isn’t this the same building they want to redevelop? Humm a bit convenient!
Amazing hasn’t already caught Fire, rather like the warehouse in Jubilee Street When they wanted to re Develop the area. On that occasion all the disassembled parts of the pier theatre went up at the same time because Certain parties didn’t want to have to fulfil their lease and rebuild that at the end of the Pier.
That’s a weak conspiracy Mark, since I’m sure its condition was one of the reasons to have it developed. You know this already though.
Sounds suspiciously like the council will soon be using the not
fit for purpose excuse for early closure and then demolition.
Not really suspicious. It’s an aging high-rise which is clearly deteriorated past the point of viable refit. I.e. it IS unfit for purpose. It’s hardly the only example in town. I’m mystified that Pelham Tower didn’t have to come down, or the block of flats on top of the carpark nearby.
It makes sense to regenerate it given its present condition. This very well may be icing on the cake to solidify and expedite a decision that was always going to happen regardless.