Dudeney Lodge and Nettleton Court
Independent surveys of Dudeney Lodge and Nettleton Court in Upper Hollingdean Road, which included both observational and intrusive surveying, show that these high rise residential tower blocks do not meet the current safety standards in relation to their ability to resist a disproportionate collapse in the case of an explosion or large fire.
See https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/24462306.brighton-high-rise-residents-warned-block-not-meet-safety/
and
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c03l205d93do
In collaboration with East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, the Building Regulator and the Social Housing Regulator, Brighton and Hove City Council has introduced the following measures:
- A temporary ban on e-bikes and e-scooter in all areas of the buildings, with the council providing alternative storage for these away from the blocks
- A temporary ban on vehicles parking underneath the blocks, which includes a temporary suspension of the use of the garages behind Nettleton Court and Dudeney Lodge
- A 24 hour security service will be put in place for the buildings to help manage what’s taken into the building and to support with floor walks and maintaining clear entrance and exit ways
Residents' concerns about fire risk have been heightened because of fires in recent years at The Waste Transfer Station in Hollingdean Depot.
One of the questions in a recent freedom of information request to Brighton and Hove City Council was whether they have undertaken any risk assessment about the proximity of Dudeney Lodge and Nettleton Court to the Hollingdean Waste Transfer Station, which has seen multiple fires in recent years, and whether this creates additional risks for these blocks.
The Council's response was: "Yes, Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) are completed on an annual cycle for all High rise blocks, with ongoing reviews and site visits to assure ongoing risk management and prompt remediation and improvement work to help continue to ensure the buildings are safe. This work incorporates an external assessment, both of building materials and neighbouring risk, which we recognise could be from a nearby site. No serious risk was recognised to resident safety due to the proximity of the waste transfer station, However, if there was a major incident at this site any impact would be a serious consideration, e.g. keep all doors and windows closed, stay indoors to reduce potential from smoke inhalation."
This page was last updated by Ted on 10-Jan-2025