Josh Robbins died at the housing association block in Newton Street

THE family of young man who fell to his death from a five-storey balcony are demanding answers from a housing association about whether the building was properly maintained.

The parents of Josh Robbins are questioning whether their son’s life was cruelly cut short due to “catastrophic consequences” of a safety barrier that “gave way”.

It is the second tenant to die in Camden in the past eight months following a suspected balcony collapse.

The 23-year-old Josh, described as “happy-go-lucky” and well known around the neighbourhood, had been calling out to a pizza delivery driver on the ground floor when the barrier collapsed.

A major safety operation was under way this week at the Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association (ISHA) run block in Newton Street, Holborn, with all other balconies shut off and boarded-up with timber.

ISHA said it was fully cooperating with the police investigation adding it was too early to speculate on what had happened and establish the facts.

The tragedy has horrifying echoes of a death of a 58-year-old man in Swiss Cottage last June following a fall through fencing on a second-floor balcony at Campden House on the Harben Road council estate, Swiss Cottage, that caved in.

In a joint statement, Josh’s dad Will Robbins and mum Fiona Jane Garrett’s said: “Safety barriers exist to save lives. When they fail, families deserve answers, and systems must be examined so this never happens again.

“No family should ever have to go through this because a safety barrier gave way. Josh deserved a future.”

The statement added: “This is not an allegation or speculation. The railing gave way. Our son did not climb it or behave recklessly. A safety barrier that was meant to prevent a fall gave way, with catastrophic consequences.

“We are asking straightforward questions: When was the railing last inspected? What maintenance records exist? Were any concerns raised about corrosion or structural integrity? What steps were taken to ensure residents’ safety? “We want transparency, accountability, and the truth. We deserve answers.”

The balconies have been boarded up as the investigation into what happened continues and, below, the missing railing after Mr Robbins’ fall

Josh, originally from a village outside of Derry in Northern Ireland, came to London to live with his father in Newton Street.

He died on Thursday, just after 8.30pm.

The family statement said that Mr Robbins had witnessed something no parent should ever have to see and is deeply traumatised.

Josh was described as “a happy-go-lucky young man who loved life” and playing games online with friends.

Growing up in ­Ireland he loved the craic at the Claudy GAA games where he was a keen supporter.

“He had a smile that lit up every room and was widely described as kind, funny, and full of charisma, with impeccable manners and an ease with ­people that made him instantly likeable,” the statement added.

After the tragedy in Campden House in Swiss Cottage last year, there were calls for every social housing estate balcony in the borough to be checked for repairs.

At the Holland and Thurston block on Friday, the fifth-floor balcony could be seen from the street boarded-up and there was a police officer still on duty outside the block and forensic tent on Monday.

A large plant pot feature on the outside of the safety barriers had been knocked clean-off the railings on the fourth floor.

In 2022, Thurston residents in the block spoke to the New Journal about concerns that ISHA was planning to sell off homes to help with the cost of maintenance and fire safety measures.

The housing association’s then chief executive of ISHA had told the New Journal that a decision had been made to sell off some flats in the block to fund maintenance of the block in Newton Street.

“Safety is our number one priority”, ISHA chief executive Ruth Davison said at the time.

ISHA owns and manages more than 2,400 homes across north and east London, with just a small number in Camden.

The New Journal understands that two flats were sold in the block Mr Robbins lived in, but that no major maintenance works had taken place since the sales. According to the most recent published accounts, ISHA had a surplus of £7.5million following the sale of 10 “void” properties.

In December, the government’s regulator said that it was well managed but operating on a tight budget.

Its report said: “ISHA has an adequately funded business plan, sufficient security in place, and is forecast to continue to meet its financial covenants.

“However, ISHA has material risks that it needs to manage. It is operating with a low level of financial headroom and is continuing investment in its existing homes, which includes meeting building safety requirements.

“ISHA also has plans to increase debt to fund the ongoing development of new homes.

“Based on the evidence gained from the stability check ISHA has the capacity to respond to a reasonable range of adverse ­scenarios.”

A forensic tent at the estate – the day after Mr Robbins’ death

The New Journal asked ISHA specific questions about maintenance of the building and balconies.

Pippa Fleetwood-Read, chief executive at Islington & Shoreditch Housing Association (ISHA) said: “The death of Joshua Robbins is deeply saddening, and everyone at ISHA sends our sincere condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.

“We are fully cooperating with the police and their investigation, but at this early stage it would be inappropriate to comment further until the full facts surrounding the incident have been established.”

The Met Police said: “Police were called on Thursday, January 29 at 8.19pm to Newton Street following reports of a fall from height.

“Met officers attended the scene alongside the London Ambulance Service who treated a 23-year-old man on scene.

“Sadly, despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he was pronounced dead.

“The circumstances surrounding his death remain ongoing.”