Stockport Homes has said it will launch an independent investigation into fire safety following complaints over safety issues made last year. 

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) issued a compliance order to the provider in October, as residents of Hanover Towers, Lancashire Hill, said they were 'absolutely terrified' by living conditions. 

Stockport Homes was found to have "not taken proportionate measures to manage the risk of spread of fire" in Hanover Towers, which was built in 1969. 

The notice also said the provider had "failed to consider inherent defects with a building of this age that should be stated within the risk assessment, nor proximity of the boiler house and risks relating to fire and explosion". 

At the time, a spokesperson for Stockport Homes said the safety of residents was their 'top priority', and that they were working closely with the regulator and engineers to ensure their buildings met safety standards. 

In a Housing Cabinet yesterday (11 February), it was confirmed that Stockport Homes will now be working with an independent body to prevent repeat safety errors. 

"We had quite a candid discussion and scrutiny about the fire safety issues in relation to this report, Cllr Jake Austin said at the Cabinet. "It's about rebuilding that trust with Stockport Homes between residents and council members who feel that that trust has been spent. 

"We're working really hard with Stockport Homes to make sure councils and residents feel like they have a trusting relationship with Stockport Homes. And that has so far worked really well. 

advertisement

"It's worked really well at the area committees where members have been quite rightly talking about how great it is to have representation of Stockport Homes within their own community area committees where they can raise issues and their own residents' concerns directly, so to see us have to take a step back as a result of what's happened with the fire risk is disappointing. 

"The only way to manage and to move forward is to do so with 100% transparency, to make sure that the investigation is completely clear and thorough, is transparent with members about the process of how that works, and about how we will work as a cabinet to hold Stockport Homes to account to ensure it doesn't happen again." 

Yesterdays Housing Cabinet also saw the introduction of Stockport Homes' new Development Plan, which will dictate how the provider operates over the next five years. 

The strategy was made in partnership between Stockport Council and Stockport Homes to improve living conditions for residents, while also bringing Stockport Homes more in line with other council departments. 

At the Cabinet, the council gave final approval to the delivery plan, which commits to more affordable housing across the borough, as well as to responsive repairs and an increased focus on blocks of flats. 

The strategy will also see more resources put towards homelessness, including on Stockport's SKylight Business Plan, which offers vulnerable people a range of support services such as energy advice, employment help, furniture service and food pantries. 

An interim review is scheduled for 2028/2029 to ensure the plan is working effectively, and reports will be made to the council yearly.  

~

advertisement

Free from clickbait, Stockport Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

To get our top stories in your inbox each week, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter HERE.

Please consider following Stockport Nub News on Facebook or X