黑洞社区

Persimmon has appointed Arup as a consultant to assess whether it has done enough to address the fire-safety issues identified in its new homes.

The listed housebuilder has responded to a damning independent review of build quality issues published yesterday. It is devising a group construction policy that includes  appropriate supervision and training of construction staff.

But Persimmon also sought to cast blame for the problem across the industry, telling 黑洞社区鈥檚 sister title Housing Today that the cavity barrier problem was 鈥渋ndustry wide鈥�.

The independent report, by Stephanie Barwise QC, found that the UK鈥檚 second biggest housebuilder had a 鈥渟ystemic, nationwide鈥� problem with missing or incorrectly installed cavity barriers on its timber-frame properties.

Cavity barriers are critical to slowing the spread of fires and the lack of such barriers was cited as a crucial factor in the recent fire at Worcester Park in South London.

Persimmon said that it had appointed Arup as a fire engineer to ensure it had 鈥渃orrectly identified the extent and nature of the problem in existing properties, and is taking the necessary steps to rectify any issues鈥�. It will also ensure that homes built in the future are fire-safe.

The firm committed to taking 鈥漚ll appropriate action in connection with the results of its own internal assurance work and the recommendations of the fire engineer鈥�.

Persimmon said it had undertaken inspections in 16,000 affected properties since first identifying the cavity barrier problem on homes in October last year.

It said: 鈥淧ersimmon fully accepts that there has been a failing in the overall supervision and inspection regime which includes its own internal processes.鈥�

Persimmon also highlighted its improved performance under the Home Builders鈥� Federation鈥檚 five-star ratings system for housebuilders 鈥� despite the fact the report made clear this should not be considered a measurement of quality.

The spokesperson added: 鈥淧ersimmon commissioned the review to provide a transparent and objective review of the action we are taking to improve areas such as build quality. The wide range of measures we have introduced together with the action we are proposing are intended to ensure that build quality problems are addressed.鈥�

In a trading update last month, the firm said that it would continue to invest in improving quality and customer service. The firm, which reported a 拢1bn-plus pre-tax profit in 2018, is due to publish this year鈥檚 results in February.