Cladding work to do be done on Ipswich Wolsey Street flats

In July, Home from Home Property Management Ltd, and company director Edward Ottley were fined £100,000 for what was described as “flagrant” breaches of fire safety regulations at Ipaxis flats in Wolsey Street. 

Judge David Pugh had said that checks carried out following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017 found that the managers misled people about the quality of the cladding in the 50-flat block in the town centre. 

Ipswich Crown Court decided on the building in July.  (Image: Newsquest) Now, plans have been submitted to Ipswich Borough Council for works to be done on the cladding at the site. 

In a statement to the council, applicants Cladding Consulting noted that the initial floors are made out of non-combustible terracotta tiles. They added that the penthouses contain combustible aluminium and need remedial work. 

The application added: "Following the introduction of the Building Safety Act and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Report, these works are required to ensure these buildings are safe to occupy.

"These changes will make the building compliant with MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) Advice for Building Owners of Multi-storey, Multi-occupied Residential Buildings.

Home from Home was fined in July.  (Image: Google Maps) At Ipswich Crown Court, Judge Pugh said an independent fire risk assessment expert had been misled by the company and was told the risk of fire from the cladding was low and he only found out later that his assessment was based on a false premise which was known to Ottley and Home from Home.

Ottley, of Tuddenham, and Home from Home, based in Pownall Road, Ipswich, which managed the flats, were found guilty after a trial of eight offences of failing to comply with fire safety regulations following a prosecution brought by Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service.

Ottley was given a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work.