Residents living in a high-rise building in Swansea are facing ongoing fire safety concerns, leading to fears reminiscent of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The Altamar building on King’s Road in Swansea has been plagued with fire safety issues, uncovered through surveys conducted post the Grenfell fire. Property owners in the building express feelings of betrayal and frustration as numerous defects have been identified, raising concerns about the safety of the building. Bellway Homes, the building’s developers, carried out fire risk assessments which revealed serious breaches, but delayed sharing this information with landlords for several months.
Geoff Spight, an 80-year-old resident and retired construction engineer, highlighted the initial fire safety issues that emerged upon his move to the building, including the lack of proper fire alarm systems and fire doors. Although emergency remediation work was conducted by Bellway Homes, subsequent surveys uncovered more fire safety problems such as corrosion in the building’s structural steel. Property owners are under financial strain as they are required to fund repair works themselves and are unable to sell their properties due to the safety issues.
The frustration and financial burden faced by residents are exacerbated by the lack of response from Bellway Homes in addressing the fire safety concerns. Residents are collectively paying for surveys and repair works, with monthly charges increasing significantly. Despite efforts to rectify the issues, challenges persist in holding the developers accountable and ensuring the safety of residents. Concerns have been raised with the Welsh Government, but satisfactory resolutions have not yet been achieved.
Bellway Homes have stated their commitment to addressing fire safety concerns and have allocated funds for remediation works. However, progress has been slow due to various external factors, including legal agreements and planning permissions. The Welsh Government is actively working with developers to ensure timely resolution of fire safety issues and provide support to affected residents. In the midst of mounting challenges and delays, residents continue to push for accountability and swift action to safeguard their homes and well-being.