Cardiff Council has approved plans for essential fire safety works at Lady Isle House, an apartment block in Ferry Court, following a post-Grenfell review. The application, filed by Savills on behalf of housing giant Bellway, includes replacing combustible cladding with non-combustible materials.
Background of the Development
Lady Isle House is part of the Prospect Place development, where several other blocks have recently received approval for similar fire-safety upgrades. The Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed that in October 2024, some residents were temporarily relocated after a fire risk assessment, returning before Christmas once safety measures were implemented.
Scope of Works
Planning documents state: “Following the Grenfell Tower disaster Bellway have undertaken a detailed review of all of their built schemes. This process has identified a number of buildings which are in part constructed with potentially combustible cladding material, including the aforementioned buildings. Bellway have committed to replacing the potentially combustible materials with appropriate alternative non-combustible materials.”
Approved works include installing 90-minute fire-rated cavity barriers within the brickwork, replacing timber cladding and sandwich board panels with non-combustible alternatives, replacing external wall insulation, inspecting the curtain walling system, and removing all combustible balcony decking for a non-combustible system. The plans emphasize that all replacements are like-for-like in appearance, preserving the building's contemporary look.
Regulatory Compliance
Described as “important fire safety works,” the project aims to ensure compliance with the latest fire safety regulations. The documents note that the building's character will be maintained post-works.
