No formal action will be taken following a balcony collapse at a Blackpool Coastal Housing (BCH) block of flats after the company acted to address its failings, it has been announced.
According to Housing News:
The Homes and Communities Agency carried out a formal investigation after the incident, for which Blackpool Coastal Housing were prosecuted.
The HCA have now published a formal document, known as a “Regulatory Notice” to formally advise the public of their findings.
In the notice they confirmed that:
- Blackpool Council (through BCH as an Arm’s Length Management Organisation) failed to meet the Home Standard
- As a consequence of this breach there was the potential for serious detriment to tenants
- The use of its statutory powers of enforcement is not proportionate in the light of the action taken to address the issues.
BCH had already admitted its failings before the courts and were fined £50,000 and ordered to pay costs last year.
Since the incident, in May 2012, the company have acted to both address the problems at the flats and made a number of changes to ensure an incident such as this will never happen again.
Immediate action was taken to secure the balconies and all properties of similar construction were surveyed and a programme of works was put in place.
This has now been completed.
Two independent reviews, one of policies and practices and another of the organisation’s culture, were also carried out to discover whether either had contributed to the incident or could lead to further incidents.
Both studies highlighted weaknesses which have now been addressed to the regulators satisfaction.
Significant personnel changes have also taken place including the appointment of a new chief executive, John Donnellon, and disciplinary action was taken against a number of parties.
Meanwhile the company has apologised and tried to show the upmost understanding and sympathy to the tenants affected.
BCH chief executive, John Donnellon, said: “It’s important that we’ve been able to satisfy the regulator that we have taken the proper steps to address this issue.
“I became the chief executive of Blackpool Coastal Housing last year at a time when that work was taking place.
“I can now confidently say that the mistakes and failings that led to this incident have been fully investigated and the all systems relating to property maintenance have been overhauled.
“This has now been acknowledged by the regulator.
“This was an incident which could have and should have been prevented.
“Mistakes were made which left our tenants in a vulnerable position and it is fortunate that no-one was injured.
“I reiterate my sincere apologies on behalf of the company to the residents of Newby Place for the distress this incident has caused and I firmly believe we are in a position where this can never happen again.”
Cllr Gillian Campbell, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member for housing, added: “We have been working closely with BCH to make sure that this does not happen again and we are satisfied the appropriate action has been taken.”