Remaining residents at Cardinal Lofts flats in Ipswich told to leave today as building 'no longer safe for occupation'
The remaining residents at a block of flats in Ipswich which was partially evacuated last year due to fire risk concerns have been told to leave the building.
It said a single staircase for the top three floors presented a risk in the case of a fire.
Grey GR, the management company for the flats, launched an investigation and, having received the results of several reports today, it announced the flats were no longer safe for occupation.
All residents were notified this afternoon and are being asked to comply with the evacuation requirements and leave the building today.
Hotel accommodation has been arranged to house residents as well as food.
A spokesman said: "We are sincerely sorry to residents and understand how upsetting this news is, however their safety is our utmost priority.
"The full extent of the issues within the building could only have been uncovered by recent intrusive surveys.
"We ask all those living in Cardinal Lofts to comply with the evacuation requirements and leave the building.
"We are in direct contact with leaseholders and are providing on the ground support to residents during this difficult time.
"We have immediately organised hotels and meals for all residents, and we are looking to source suitable longer-term accommodation, while we expedite all remediation works.
"We will continue to communicate as further updates become available and wish to do all that we can to ease the understandable distress this will cause."
He said they were working with their project team to determine next steps.
"All decisions made will be in the best interests and safety of residents, and in accordance with the advice of the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service," he said.
The building contains 80 leasehold flats.
Grey GR has contacted the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and is providing updates to MP Tom Hunt.
The spokesman said that the decision followed the most intrusive inspection carried out at the building to date as part of the ongoing remediation and included inspections within a number of apartments as well as communal spaces.
“The reports detailed the condition of internal compartmentation, established at the point of development, is below expected standards," he added.
"We have shared these reports and additional independent technical notes with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, and Grey, alongside technical experts, have concluded that the property is no longer safe for occupation."