Residents of a London tower block have spent six years surrounded by scaffolding while essential cladding remediation remains incomplete, raising serious questions about fire safety, accountability and the protection of residents.
Six years waiting for fire safety improvements
More than nine years after the Grenfell Tower tragedy, residents of Archway Heights in north London are still waiting for essential cladding replacement work to begin.
According to The Guardian, the nine-storey building has been surrounded by scaffolding since 2020, with regulatory approval delays preventing remediation from progressing.
The building, managed by housing association Places for People, contains 25 homes.
Residents have reported restricted natural light, concerns about unauthorised access via the scaffolding and fears that the temporary structure could introduce additional fire hazards.
The situation highlights an uncomfortable reality: measures introduced to facilitate essential building safety improvements can themselves become a source of concern when projects are delayed.
When temporary arrangements become long-term risks
Scaffolding is essential for many refurbishment and remediation projects, but its installation can change a building’s fire risk profile.
Protective sheeting, combustible materials, altered access arrangements and potential opportunities for deliberate fire-setting all require careful consideration.
The 2024 fire at a residential building in Dagenham demonstrated the potential dangers associated with external fire spread during building works.
For occupied residential buildings, temporary arrangements must be subject to appropriate assessment, inspection and ongoing management.
Where scaffolding remains in place for years rather than months, the need to reassess these arrangements becomes particularly important.
Building safety regulation and remediation delays
The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced significant reforms intended to strengthen accountability and improve standards across the built environment.
However, the Archway Heights case illustrates the difficulties that can arise when remediation projects encounter regulatory delays.
The Guardian reports that an initial application to the Building Safety Regulator in April 2024 was invalidated. A subsequent application in January 2025 required further information to demonstrate compliance.
Places for People has acknowledged residents’ frustration, explaining that work cannot begin without regulatory approval.
Robust scrutiny is essential, particularly where external wall systems and occupied residential buildings are concerned.
Nevertheless, regulatory processes must operate alongside effective interim fire safety arrangements and clear communication with residents.
Delays in permanent remediation must never mean delays in managing existing risks.
The importance of ongoing fire risk management
At Ember Fire Consultants, we recognise that effective fire safety requires continuous assessment rather than a one-off approach to compliance.
Building owners, managing agents and responsible persons must ensure that fire precautions remain appropriate as circumstances change.
During remediation projects, particular attention should be given to:
- Fire risk assessments: reviewing assessments when scaffolding, temporary materials or changes to access arrangements introduce new hazards.
- Fire protection: maintaining effective compartmentation, fire doors, detection arrangements and other relevant precautions.
- External fire hazards: managing combustible materials, ignition sources and the potential for external fire spread.
- Means of escape: ensuring temporary works do not compromise evacuation routes or emergency service access.
- Resident communication: providing clear information about identified risks, interim precautions and remediation timescales.
Professional fire safety advice can help dutyholders identify emerging hazards, implement proportionate controls and maintain compliance throughout complex building projects.
Grenfell’s legacy must be measured in action
The Grenfell Tower tragedy exposed profound failures in building safety, accountability and the protection of residents.
Almost a decade later, the experience of those living at Archway Heights demonstrates that the consequences of historic building safety failures remain unresolved.
Remediation is not simply about replacing defective materials or obtaining regulatory approval. It is about protecting people and restoring confidence in the safety of their homes.
For ember, the principle is clear.
Fire safety cannot be put on hold while permanent solutions are developed. Risks must be understood, appropriate precautions maintained and residents’ safety prioritised throughout.
Source: The Guardian, 19 October 2026
