Work to replace 4,300 Norwich front doors set to start

Labour-run Norwich City Council awarded a contract for the replacement of fire doors on 4,350 of its homes, including tower blocks, last year, but they have yet to be installed.

Tower blocks on Norwich's Heartsease estate (Image: Steve Adams)

That led to criticism from Alex Catt, leader of the opposition Green group, at a meeting of the city council this week.

Green group leader Alex Catt (Image: Submitted)

Mr Catt highlighted how the local government ombudsman had rapped City Hall after a Norwich man was left without a fire-safe front door for more than two years.

He said he had heard similar stories across the city and questioned why the door replacement programme had still not happened.

Beth Jones, Norwich City Council cabinet member for housing (Image: Denise Bradley)

But Beth Jones, the council's cabinet member for housing, said time had been needed to negotiate to ensure the best doors are installed - and to secure the appropriate approval to put them in.

She said: "Since contract award late last year we have been in intense negotiations to determine and approve specifications, products, materials and sub-contractors for measurement surveys, dynamic asbestos assessments, evidence of compliance, certification and warranties plus guarantees.

"It is this level of detail that gives us assurance of success from a professional fire safety perspective and is bound into the contract specification documentation.

"Fully certified fire doors are bespoke, unique products and all require measurement, manufacturing and installation."

The issue was discussed at a meeting of Norwich City Council (Image: Nick Butcher)

She said doors in high rise blocks are subject to the Building Safety Act and it can take six to eight months to get the necessary approval to install them.

She said work to measure properties for new doors would start next month and it could take up to 12 weeks in lead time to get the suitable doors manufactured.

She said: "The entire programme will proceed, including the high rise blocks once the Building Safety Regulator has authorised.

"I am committed to providing members with more information about work on site in due course."

READ MORE: Norwich City Council facing 143 legal claims over housing

Tower blocks on Norwich's Heartsease estate (Image: Steve Adams) The defective doors were installed between 2018 and 2021, with some put in place as part of an improvement programme following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, in which more than 70 people died in a London fire. 

Following the discovery of the defects, the council installed temporary safety measures across its buildings such as secondary alarm systems in those deemed "most at risk".