Ipswich: Cladding works on Churchmans House approved

In August, the Churchman House Residents Management Company, led by councillor Chu Man, submitted plans to Ipswich Borough Council to start remediation works on the site. 

The Portman Road building was put under special measures due to fire safety concerns in July 2023, being placed on a 24/7 waking watch.

Now, the borough council has approved the initial cladding work, to begin with conditions added that request for further information on windows and doors. 

The plans followed a "significant intrusive investigation" into the structure of the site to understand what remedial works the building needs. 

The plans state: "It has been concluded that the risk to life safety arising from the external wall systems at Churchman’s House is considered to be on the lower end of the high-risk band.

"Due to the level of risk identified, it is appropriate that a proportionate response is provided."

Jack Abbott MP had helped secure a grant for the cladding work to be done on the site.  (Image: Roger Harris/House of Commons) The changes have come after a push from Ipswich MP Jack Abbott to help the building secure grants from the department of housing, communities and local government to fund the remedial works. 

In August this year,  Mr Abbott wrote a letter to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Building Safety and Homelessness asking the department to approve full funding for the necessary remedial action and to guarantee the cost doesn't fall on the leaseholders in the building.

In September, it was revealed that Churchmans House was eligible for funding to remediate all necessary works identified in the Fire Risk Assessment of External Walls.

Following this, in November Mr Abbott was able to secure another grant to further fund these works.