Plans lodged to replace Grenfell-style cladding at Ipaxis flats in Ipswich’s Wolsey Street after management firm convicted for safety breaches

Grenfell-style cladding could be removed from a flats complex in Ipswich – just months after its management company was convicted for fire safety breaches.

Steven Truman, from Cladding Consulting, has submitted plans to Ipswich Borough Council, seeking the installation of non-combustible cladding and insulation at the Ipaxis flats at 2 to 100 Wolsey Street.

If approved, safety issues would be amended on the third, fourth and fifth floors, while insulation would be installed on the ground floor.

This comes after Home from Home Property Management and its director Edward Ottley were found guilty of eight non-compliance offences at Colchester Magistrates’ Court in June.

He was jailed for 10 months, suspended for 18 months, and fined more than £100,000. He was also ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work.

In July 2017, it was found that the flats contained aluminium composite material, similar to material found to be the cause of the blaze at Grenfell Tower.

These will need to be removed before the flats are deemed safe for habitation.

According to planning documents, much of the outside of the buildings is made up of terracotta tiles, which are not flammable and are therefore not in need of remediation work.

The look of the building, or ‘street scene’, will not be impacted by the work, Mr Truman said.

The plans added: “Following the introduction of the Building Safety Act and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report, these works are required to ensure the buildings are safe to occupy.

“With all the above carefully considered, we are confident that our proposal will no have an impact on the existing street scene.”