Urgent safety measures have been brought in at a Plymouth city centre block of flats at risk of a catastrophic and fatal fire. Hundreds of residents in Ocean Crescent have received letters telling them an inspection found “significant” issues which could pose a “serious threat to life" if a blaze started.
The 11-storey building, in the Crescent opposite the New Continental Hotel, was due to have its cladding replaced later this year - eight years after the Grenfell Tower blaze in London, in which 72 people died. But a survey ahead of this work uncovered safety concerns and the building’s car park has been closed and “waking watch” patrols by security staff have been started - at a cost of £2,726 a week.
Residents, who received letters telling them about the situation just two days before Christmas, said they are now very concerned about the building’s safety and how much they might end up being charged for the security patrols. They are also worried about where they are going to park their vehicles. There are 124 flats in Ocean Crescent and potentially as many as 250 residents, including some who are disabled.
One flat owner, who asked not be named, asked why people had been allowed to live in “such an unsafe building” and added: “Why weren't proper inspections and risk assessments carried out before? Why has it taken them so long to even get close to a date to make the residents safe from fire?”
Another resident, who also asked not to be named, told PlymouthLive: “There is a lot of concern.”
In 2021, combustible material was found in the external walls at Ocean Crescent and it was decided to replace the cladding. On December 23, 2024, residents received emails telling them a survey by engineers of the internal structure had looked at how fire would spread inside and how long before the building collapsed if a blaze started.
The letter, from Plymouth Block Management which manages the building on behalf of its freeholder, said: “The results of these surveys have shown that the internal compartmentation has significant issues which could pose a serious threat to life in the event of a fire.”
Plymouth City Council and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service then conducted their own review of the findings and demanded interim safety measures were put in place immediately.
It was agreed a “waking watch” would start from December 23, with staff patrolling the tower 24 hours a day, every day “until further notice”. It was also decided to close the ground floor car park at the bottom of the building as it would pose a significant threat to life if a fire started there.
The letter from Plymouth Block Management said: “The results of the reports have identified a higher level of risk in the event of a fire than was previously known, however by putting these interim measures in place, combined with the existing fire detection and fire management systems within the building, the risk remains at a tolerable level.”
Residents have been issued with temporary parking permits allowing them to park for free in the area immediately around Ocean Crescent. The waking watch will cost £2,726.64 per week.
Plymouth Block Management’s letter apologised for disruption caused and said: “Appropriate remediation works will be needed. The extent of these works and what will be required to remediate the current risk level has yet to be determined.
“Our priority will be getting sufficient remediation in place as soon as possible to discharge the waking watch and re-open the parking garage in that order – whilst we accept the car park being closed is frustrating, the waking watch is a massive expense we cannot really afford.”
It added: “We will be looking at all viable solutions to allow us to stand down the waking watch as quickly as possible. At this stage we cannot rule out a significant increase in the service charge and/or buildings insurance.”
Residents said they are also concerned about having the huge costs placed onto them, despite various Government guidelines on who should pay for post-Grenfell work. One flat owner said: “Most, if not all, should not have to pay anything, but in reality I expect we will be charged.
“Residents have paid more than £1m in service charges since the freeholder discovered the need to carry out fire remediation work in late 2020,” the person added. “These have mainly been for fire remediation work and insurance costs that went from £13,000 in 2020 to £280,000 in 2021.
“They have since reduced a little to about £180,000 in the current financial year. These are shared in the service charge amongst the 124 flats.”
Another resident said: “The concern is all the costs will be put onto the lease holders. There is a real lack of clarity over who is paying for this.”
The same person said the council had “done the right thing” by allowing residents to use the Theatre Royal car park for free, but said this was only until January 10.
The person said the council would then issue parking permits, but said: “Permit parking is massively oversubscribed - we could end up parking on the other side of the Hoe.”
A Plymouth City Council spokesperson said: "We are aware of the prohibition notice that has been issued by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service on the car park garage of Ocean Crescent.
"As the leaseholders are no longer able to park their cars in the building car park as a result, we have offered support in the form of temporary parking arrangements nearby. This is being coordinated through the building's manager.
Plymouth Block Management has been approached for comment. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has also been approached for comment.
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