The proposed tower block in 100 Avenue Road

• SINCE the Grenfell Tower fire, the Royal Institute of British Architects has been campaigning for a change to building regulations guidance to require “at least two separate staircases to be installed in new multiple-occupancy residential buildings where the top floor is higher than three storeys, or more than 11metres above ground level, so that residents have alternative escape routes if fire breaks out”.

The government recently sent out a circular, warning architects against residential towers with single staircases and published advice from the Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC) that: “Proposals for tall residential buildings… are highly unlikely to be able to show compliance with the current regulations.”

In addition, the new London Plan [3.11.2] states that “applicants should consider issues of fire safety before building control application stage”, not after construction, as previously set out.

Therefore, as a matter of urgency, should Camden Council not now insist upon a second stairwell in Essential Living’s 24-storey 100 Avenue Road tower at Swiss Cottage?

And should not the council reconsider its rash and unprecedented decision in August 2020 to approve the developers’ proposal to remove two fire exits from the scheme (to make way for more retail space and a water feature), after overturning the members’ briefing panel’s recommendation for a full public hearing?

Can the occupants of 148 flats in a 24-storey high tower block really be considered safe having to converge from one stairwell into one fire exit that could itself be compromised with smoke or fire?

JANINE SACHS, Chair
ANTHONY KAY
ALEX ANDREWS
EDIE RAFF
ELAINE CHAMBERS
FRANCOISE FINDLAY
GABRIEL BALINT-KURTI
SARAH HOWARD
– Save Swiss Cottage

MONIKA CARO, Chair
DAVID REED, Treasurer
– Save Swiss Cottage Action Group