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New homes built by Persimmon missing fire safety barriers | New homes built by Persimmon missing fire safety barriers |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Homes built by one of the UK's largest developers were constructed without essential barriers to slow the spread of fire. | Homes built by one of the UK's largest developers were constructed without essential barriers to slow the spread of fire. |
Regulations dictate the flame-resistant material must be installed in roof spaces and wall cavities. | Regulations dictate the flame-resistant material must be installed in roof spaces and wall cavities. |
Housebuilder Persimmon Homes found it was missing from some properties on estates in south-west England. | Housebuilder Persimmon Homes found it was missing from some properties on estates in south-west England. |
It has written to more than 1,000 people to say their homes need to be checked. | It has written to more than 1,000 people to say their homes need to be checked. |
One resident in Truro, Cornwall, said his house "is potentially a massive fire risk". | |
The homeowner, who did not want to be named, said recent inspections of his five-year-old house revealed "a vast amount" of fire were barriers missing. | The homeowner, who did not want to be named, said recent inspections of his five-year-old house revealed "a vast amount" of fire were barriers missing. |
"I'm extremely concerned because I have a family, including two children, living in this house," he said. | "I'm extremely concerned because I have a family, including two children, living in this house," he said. |
Some of the homes affected are on a Persimmon-built estate in Exeter where a fire last year "rapidly escalated" as it spread between properties. | Some of the homes affected are on a Persimmon-built estate in Exeter where a fire last year "rapidly escalated" as it spread between properties. |
Speaking about the blaze, Cornwall councillor Dulcie Tudor said it had spread "through to the roofs of the adjoining houses". | Speaking about the blaze, Cornwall councillor Dulcie Tudor said it had spread "through to the roofs of the adjoining houses". |
Homes without cavity barriers "act like a chimney" in the event of a fire, she said, and called for work on all Persimmon Homes developments to be halted until the faults have been rectified. | Homes without cavity barriers "act like a chimney" in the event of a fire, she said, and called for work on all Persimmon Homes developments to be halted until the faults have been rectified. |
Fire safety consultant Alan Cox said blazes "could easily travel from one compartment or property to another" if there were missing barriers "at roof level". | Fire safety consultant Alan Cox said blazes "could easily travel from one compartment or property to another" if there were missing barriers "at roof level". |
Persimmon's website says it builds 16,000 new homes a year. | Persimmon's website says it builds 16,000 new homes a year. |
A spokesperson said the firm had "identified this as an issue in its south west region" and had "carried out a full check of more than 1,100 timber frame properties and checks are ongoing". | A spokesperson said the firm had "identified this as an issue in its south west region" and had "carried out a full check of more than 1,100 timber frame properties and checks are ongoing". |
"However, while investigations are live we are not in a position to advise of the results". | "However, while investigations are live we are not in a position to advise of the results". |
Persimmon includes Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset within the south-west region. | Persimmon includes Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset within the south-west region. |
The company did not confirm whether there were any issues in other parts of the country. | The company did not confirm whether there were any issues in other parts of the country. |
Cornwall Council said its enforcement powers were limited because it had not inspected the homes when they were built. | Cornwall Council said its enforcement powers were limited because it had not inspected the homes when they were built. |
Repeated breaches of building regulations can result in the developer being taken to court by a local authority. | Repeated breaches of building regulations can result in the developer being taken to court by a local authority. |
Have you been affected by similar issues to those raised in this story? If so please get in touch at PlymouthNewsOnline@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by similar issues to those raised in this story? If so please get in touch at PlymouthNewsOnline@bbc.co.uk. |
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