Cladding to be replaced to make building safer

Plans to remove cladding from a building in Hull have been submitted to the council.

Kemley House, located at the junction of Ferensway and Prospect Street, is covered in combustible cladding on the southern and eastern facing sides of the building, according to the applicant.

The proposals include removing the current cladding and replacing it with materials that meet updated fire safety regulations.

The drive to remove certain types of cladding from buildings was triggered by the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire which killed 72 people.

Kemley House was built in the 1980s as an office building, but was converted into a residential block in 2005, consisting of 34 flats.

Planning documents state that the works to the existing building include the replacement of "existing combustible cladding", as well as other remedial work.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, residents would be able to remain in their properties while the work takes place.

As well as making the building safer, the replacement non-combustible cladding will slightly alter the look of the building - being darker in colour than what is there currently.

The subsequent inquiry following the Grenfell Tower fire found the cladding to be the "principal cause of the rapid fire spread".

Earlier this week, ministers announced plans to speed up the removal of unsafe cladding, including target dates for making buildings safe and tougher penalties for refusing to act.

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