Fire safety concerns lead to evacuation of residential scheme in West London

Following a comprehensive safety review across the six-block Paragon residential development in West London, Notting Hill Genesis has evacuated more than 1,000 residents to protect their health and safety while further investigative work is undertaken.

Paragon is a development of six blocks containing a total of 1,059 homes in Brentford, Hounslow. It was developed by Berkeley First, part of The Berkeley Group plc. A series of safety checks at Paragon, revealed problems with this development.

The further investigations will establish the full extent of the structural and fire safety issues that have been uncovered at the development and identify next steps.

Notting Hill Genesis has taken action to address these risks as they have arisen, including establishing waking watches and temporary alarms, and introducing simultaneous evacuation procedures, but the latest advice prompted the group to move residents out.

Kate Davies, group chief executive of Notting Hill Genesis, said: “First, I want to say how sorry we are to residents that we have had to take this action and disrupt their lives. But, as a not-for-profit housing association, our priority is to provide safe, affordable housing. We always ensure the wellbeing of our residents, so while we are incredibly disappointed to have to make this decision, we believe that we have no choice but to ask people to leave their homes on the Paragon estate.

“This is a complex situation and we don’t yet have all the answers. We are working to uncover the full extent of the issues at Paragon so that we can provide residents with clarity about timescales, next steps and options as quickly as possible.

There is no suggestion that any other buildings in the Notting Hill Genesis portfolio will require a similar approach to the one being taken at Paragon.