Work to improve tenant safety is due to begin at a high-rise building in Huddersfield town centre.

Improved fire safety measures are being introduced at the council-owned Buxton House, on New Street, starting from Monday January 10.

A total of 57 flats in the 11-storey building will have new fire doors fitted and surrounding door fittings replaced to ensure they meet new building compliance standards, introduced following the Grenfell tragedy.

Communal doors will also be replaced as part of the work, which is expected to last 10 weeks.

Contractors will work on one floor at a time and tenants whose properties are affected will be offered temporary accommodation for five days in local hotels whilst their floor is being upgraded.

The work is part of a £90 million improvement plan being carried out across Kirklees, aimed at making tenants’ homes safer.

Clr Cathy Scott

Clr Cathy Scott, Cabinet member for housing and democracy, said: “Keeping our tenants safe is our top priority and this vital work to replace fire doors is one way we can ensure both our tenants and leaseholders remain safe in their homes.

“Our housing officers have been working closely with the residents of Buxton House to make sure they fully understand the need for this crucial work to go ahead, and feel prepared for the short-term move to temporary accommodation to enable contractors to carry out the necessary works.

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“Whilst we can appreciate the upheaval this may cause, we hope all tenants and leaseholders will acknowledge the importance of us making these fire safety improvements and we’d like to thank them for working with our housing officers to make arrangements for us to continue meeting their housing needs whilst the work is ongoing.”

Further phases of fire safety work at Buxton House will include compartmentation work to the empty spaces between the building’s walls and the installation of new automatic opening vents.