EG: Airspace developers call for changes in fire safety

ARAD’s founders.

Leading trade media outlet EG has just covered ARAD’s first virtual roundtable. With thanks to residential reporter Emma Rosser, who writes…

The trade body for airspace developers has called for new requirements for fire safety in rooftop schemes.

The Association of Rooftop and Airspace Development (ARAD) has called for local authority building control to be a statutory consultee in planning. The group has also demanded greater clarity around the Building Safety Bill and direction from the London Fire Brigade.

Current requirements mean two sets of permissions are required from building control and planners. However, ARAD said there is a lack of communication between the two.

An ARAD spokesman said: “We have historically seen cases of planners who don’t fully understand how buildings operate which can cause a range of problems. Involving building control from the outset would enable both parties to have the right conversations, leading to better and safer buildings. However, planners should not actively get involved with decisions around fire safety – which should be left to the experts.”

ARAD said that there was confusion over the new Building Safety Bill and the need for sprinklers in buildings over 11m. When adding new floors via airspace development, ARAD said there appeared to be split views on where sprinklers are necessary – some believe only the new floors would need sprinklers and others believe the entire building requires them.

The spokesman added: “We need a clear steer from the London Fire Brigade on what they would like to see going forwards, which in turn can help shape policies around planning and fire safety.

“At present, the detail is open to interpretation with different local authorities having differing viewpoints. We all want safer buildings but there has to be a balance with what is actually viable in regards to delivering new homes.”