Spectrum Building: block of flats in Dagenham which caught fire to be demolished

Demolition works for the privately owned Spectrum Building on Freshwater Road will start on Monday (December 2) and are expected to end by mid-to-late January.

According to a Barking and Dagenham Council spokesperson, the building owners have decided to knock down the building following several surveyor reports which ‘have confirmed that the building is unsafe’. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has contacted Block Management UK Ltd, the company which manages the building, for comment.

During the early hours of August 26, forty fire engines and 225 firefighters tackled a huge blaze that had ripped through the building, which saw more than 80 people evacuated. Four people were treated on the scene by London Ambulance Service crews and two were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.

A planning application from June 2023 revealed ‘remedial work’ had been approved to remove non-compliant cladding on floors five and six of the building.

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There were a number of fire safety issues ‘known’ to the London Fire Brigade (LFB), and an investigation was launched to look into the role cladding played in the fire.

The LDRS understands the LFB has finished the on-site phase of its investigation and is continuing its work in collaboration with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) to assess the building’s compliance with safety regulations prior to the fire.

Displaced residents who had nowhere to stay were provided with emergency accommodation by the council and a council fundraiser raised over £26,000 to support families who had ‘lost everything’ in the fire.

The council has also been supporting residents with finding longer-term accommodation, as well as providing wellbeing and trauma support.

In the weeks that followed the council slammed Block Management for not showing up to meet with residents affected by the blaze.

Block Management previously said in a statement it was working on a communications strategy with the council, which included weekly updates to residents.

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A Block Management spokesperson previously said it unable to answer any questions relating to the cause of the fire or to the insurance policy or its claim provisions as this was put in place by the building owner.

Council statement on demolition action

A council spokesperson said: “Following the fire that took place at Spectrum building on August 26, the building owners have taken the decision to demolish the block following several surveyor reports which have confirmed that the building is unsafe.

“While this is a private block not owned by the council, we have continued to provide humanitarian support to residents affected by the devastating fire.

“Our support has included emergency accommodation with support into longer-term accommodation, rest centre access, providing essential supplies, advice and wellbeing and trauma support.”

They added: “Working with our partners, support also included welfare advice, food vouchers, clothing and essentials, replacing key documents, support for parents and families, and more.

“Demolition works for the block will start today (December 2) and are expected conclude mid-late January. The council is continuing to communicate with residents and ensure there is open and transparent communication with all parties involved.”