A £9,000,000 project to upgrade fire doors in six London boroughs and the City of London has been given the go-ahead.

Over 7,000 Londoners in 12 City of London Corporation-run housing estates in Camden, the City of London, Hackney, Islington, Lewisham, Southwark, and Tower Hamlets will benefit from the scheme.

The programme will replace all front, communal, and fire escape doors in over 2,300 homes, to make sure they have an enhanced up to 60-minute fire resistance.

Randall Anderson, Chairman of the City Corporation’s Community and Children Services Committee, said:

“The security of residents is our number one priority. We want all our residents to be safe and feel safe in their homes.

“We have worked hard to enhance fire safety on our estates, and these new doors will increase protection and reassurance for thousands of Londoners.”

Following the tragedy at Grenfell Tower, the City of London Corporation, which is a major social housing provider in the capital, made a commitment to improve the fire safety on its housing estates and launched a review.

The City Corporation has also agreed to fit fire sprinklers in all its social housing tower blocks by the end of this year.

Sprinkler systems are one of the most effective tools available to prevent the spread of fire in high-rise flats.

Notes to editors

The project will provide replacement doors with up to 60 minutes fire resistance; and 30 minutes as an absolute minimum if 60 minutes is not achievable or appropriate.

The works will replace all front doors, including the panels and frames around the door.

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk