Cladding similar to Grenfell Tower found on Woodberry Down block

Cladding similar to the one used on Grenfell Tower has been discovered at a block on Berkeley’s Woodberry Down development in north London, Hackney council has said. However, it said the cladding on the eight-storey block was purely decorative and did not compromise the safety of the building, which is the only one on the scheme clad in that material. It said Berkeley Homes and Genesis were working swiftly to address the issue. Philip Glanville, mayor of Hackney, said: “Following the devastating fire at Grenfell Tower, we asked all social housing providers in the borough to investigate the cladding on their properties and we have now been informed that cladding similar to that used at Grenfell Tower has been found on part of an eight-storey housing association block at Woodberry Down. “We have been assured that the cladding is used in an entirely different way to that at Grenfell Tower. It is purely decorative, on a new-build block and does not compromise the safety of the building. “This block is the only building at Woodberry Down where this type of cladding has been found and we are pleased that Berkeley Homes and Genesis Housing Association have worked quickly to identify this and are taking swift action to replace it. “We understand that Berkeley Homes and Genesis have written to residents of the flats affected and they will be kept fully informed of any further action that is taken. “There is no immediate safety risk to residents but, as a precaution, the cladding will be removed immediately and until the removal is complete, a fire safety officer will be on site 24/7.” None of the council’s 181 medium- to high-rise blocks have the type of cladding used at Grenfell Tower but the council has commissioned an independent review of all council-owned blocks to reassure residents.   To send feedback, e-mail alex.peace@egi.co.uk or tweet @egalexpeace or @estatesgazette