Less than half of 17,000 fire-resistant doors installed in Hackney, council confirms

Key Points:

• Hackney Council originally pledged to install 17,000 fire-resistant doors in council housing following the Grenfell fire.
• Due to new regulations under the Building Safety Act 2022, the number of required door replacements has dropped to 7,086.
• Only 3,398 doors have been installed so far, at a total cost of £15.5 million.
• The council now estimates it will take another three years to complete the remaining 3,148 doors.
• Costs have risen from £1,500 to £4,000 per door, largely due to supply issues and inflation.
• A new £1.2 million contract was awarded for door replacements in 10 Hackney schools.
• The revised regulation now applies only to buildings of seven storeys or more, up from six.
• Hackney Council was one of the first local authorities to act after the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
• As reported by Josef Steen of the Hackney Citizen, the council insists no residents are currently at immediate risk.
• Fire risk assessments are ongoing and focused on high-rise blocks registered with the Building Safety Regulator.

Hackney Council has confirmed it will no longer replace all 17,000 fire doors across its housing stock, with changes to national building regulations reducing the number of required replacements by more than half.

The update, reported by Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter for the Hackney Citizen, comes as the council revealed that only 3,398 doors have been installed to date — less than 20% of the original target — despite a £15.5 million spend.

Why has the number of doors to be replaced dropped?

What changed in the Building Safety Act 2022?

As explained by Josef Steen in the Hackney Citizen, the Building Safety Act 2022 changed the rules on which buildings require upgraded fire doors. Previously, buildings of six storeys or higher were included, but under the new regulations, only buildings of seven storeys or higher fall within scope.

This legislative shift significantly impacted Hackney Council’s original target of 17,000 fire doors, reducing it to 7,086 doors across 137 council blocks registered with the Building Safety Regulator.

A Town Hall spokesperson told the Hackney Citizen that only 5,973 doors are now covered by the new rules, narrowing the council’s legal obligations.

How much has the scheme cost so far?

What is the cost per fire door?

According to the council’s statements to Josef Steen of the Hackney Citizen, the cost of replacing each door has risen sharply — from £1,500 in 2018 to around £4,000 in 2025. The increase is attributed to supply chain challenges, rising material costs, and fees charged by the Building Safety Regulator.

“The cost of the scheme has also increased due to the fee charged by the regulator for each block,” a council spokesperson said.

The total spend so far stands at £15.5 million for 3,398 installed doors.

How long will it take to finish the work?

When will the remaining doors be installed?

While the original plan expected completion within five years, delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, cost increases, and additional facilitative works have pushed that timeline back.

The Town Hall now anticipates it will take “around three years” to finish installing the remaining 3,148 doors.

What prompted the fire door replacement initiative?

Was this response to Grenfell?

Yes. The replacement programme was launched after the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which raised nationwide concerns about fire safety in high-rise residential buildings.

In March 2018, the Metropolitan Police found that some Manse Masterdor fire doors at Grenfell failed under testing, losing integrity in just 15 minutes rather than the required 30.

In response, Hackney Council committed to replacing all 17,000 front doors across its housing stock, prioritising buildings deemed highest-risk.

What did the council say about current fire safety?

Are residents at immediate risk?

In October 2018, the council told the Hackney Citizen that the London Fire Brigade had judged no residents to be at immediate risk. This position has not changed.

Then housing group director Kim Wright said:

“It is important to remember that the Grenfell tragedy related to the cladding on the building, which assisted the spread of the fire, and not the fire doors.”

She also noted that fire tests subjected doors to extreme conditions “unlikely to unfold in real life”.

Today, fire risk assessments continue to be conducted on council properties, particularly those seven storeys or higher. In 2023, the Citizen reported the council hoped to complete 6,000 of the most urgent replacements in a year.

What other safety projects is Hackney Council undertaking?

Are schools part of the safety upgrade?

In May 2025, Hackney Council awarded a £1.2 million contract to replace fire doors in 10 local schools, continuing its broader fire safety push.

Although this programme is separate from the housing stock upgrades, it reflects the council’s commitment to improving safety across all public buildings.

What are the challenges and criticisms?

What caused delays and cost overruns?

The council blames “supply challenges across the whole sector” and inflation in the construction industry for the rising costs.

The Covid-19 pandemic also delayed works, while new safety protocols required additional preparatory tasks before installation.

Residents and campaigners have previously criticised the slow pace of progress, especially in blocks like Pitcairn House, where safety fears were reported in 2024 due to issues with smoke detectors, narrow stairwells, and unclear evacuation policies.

What’s next for Hackney’s fire safety programme?

Will all metal gates be removed?

The council has also warned residents about the dangers of metal security gates on front doors, which could impede escape during a fire. It hopes the new fire-resistant doors will reduce the need for these gates.

Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) are conducted annually in the highest-risk buildings and inform which homes are prioritised for door replacement.

Hackney Council says it remains committed to “investing in new doors to make homes even safer,” working closely with the London Fire Brigade and guided by updated regulations.