Hackney Council £15.6m Fire Safety Contracts Hackney 2026

Key Points

• Hackney Council awarded two contracts worth £7.8 million each to Frankham Risk Management and Airey Miller Ltd on 20 April 2026 for a substantial fire safety review of high-rise and mid-rise blocks across its housing estates.
• Total consultancy fees amount to £15.6 million over four years, fully funded by government grants under the Cladding Safety Scheme (CSS).
• An initial £11 million deal was agreed in July 2025, with an additional £4.4 million approved to accelerate procurement and meet the government’s 2029 deadline for fire safety works.
• The review addresses new building safety regulations requiring inspections for potentially combustible materials in cladding, insulation, balconies, brickwork and other areas.
• Post-Grenfell (2017), the council confirmed no buildings had flammable Aluminium Composite Material (ACM), but removed cladding from high-rise blocks on four estates.
• In 2019, 41 families were evacuated from a Hoxton block due to incorrect insulation; the council planned legal action against Willmott Dixon’s housing arm.
• In 2021, Morris Blitz House residents learned their building failed safety standards due to aluminium cladding, chipboard cavity walls and polystyrene insulation identified in a mortgage lender’s survey.
• Original plan for 17,000 fire-resistant doors (30-minute rating) revised under 2022 Building Safety Regulations to focus on blocks of seven storeys or higher; roughly 7,500 doors to be replaced by 2028.
• Since May 2018, dry risers installed outside more than 300 buildings to support firefighters.

Hackney (East London Times) April 28, 2026 – Hackney Council has awarded contracts totalling £15.6 million to fire safety consultants Frankham Risk Management and Airey Miller Ltd to assess hazards in its housing estates.

The decision, made last Monday (20 April), covers a four-year review of high-rise and mid-rise blocks borough-wide. Funding comes entirely from government grants via the Cladding Safety Scheme (CSS), which supports remediation of life safety fire risks in cladding on buildings over 11 metres.

Why Did Hackney Council Increase Fire Safety Consultancy Spending to £15.6 Million?

An initial £11 million agreement from July 2025 expanded by £4.4 million to hasten procurement. As reported by the Evening Standard, this ensures compliance with the government’s timeline for grant-funded works by 2029.

The contracts, each valued at £7.8 million, target inspections for combustible materials in cladding, insulation, balconies and brickwork, driven by post-Grenfell regulatory changes.

Hackney Citizen detailed that local authorities face mandates for these checks on buildings with potentially hazardous elements.

No direct statements from council officials appear in the reports, but the awards via frameworks like Pretium “Hyde Building & Fire Safety Framework, Lot 6” for Airey Miller were noted in council documents.

What Fire Safety Measures Has Hackney Council Implemented Since Grenfell Tower Fire?

Following the 2017 Grenfell tragedy, which killed 72 people, Hackney Council inspected all blocks and confirmed no Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding matching Grenfell’s.

Cladding was removed from high-rise buildings on four estates to align with updated standards.

In 2019, the council evacuated 41 families from a Hoxton block after finding incorrect insulation failing safety requirements.

Hackney Citizen reported the council stated it would pursue legal action against Willmott Dixon’s housing arm for the failures.

Two years later, in 2021, Morris Blitz House residents were informed their building fell short of adequate standards. A mortgage lender’s survey revealed aluminium cladding, gas cupboards with chipboard cavity walls insulated by polystyrene.

How Have Building Safety Regulations Affected Hackney Council’s Door Replacement Plans?

Post-Grenfell, the council pledged 17,000 new doors rated for 30 minutes of fire resistance across its housing. The 2022 Building Safety Regulations limited this to high-rise blocks of seven storeys or more.

The council now targets replacement of roughly 7,500 doors by 2028. BBC News noted the revision followed regulatory updates specifying requirements for taller structures.

Related efforts include £15.5 million already spent on 3,398 doors in 137 high-rise blocks registered with the Building Safety Regulator, plus £1.2 million for school upgrades.

What Role Do Dry Risers Play in Hackney’s Fire Safety Upgrades?

Since May 2018, Hackney Council has fitted dry risers—pipe systems for firefighters—outside over 300 buildings. These are mandatory in UK buildings over 18 metres (about six storeys) up to 60 metres, per Approved Document B and BS 9990.

Regulations require galvanized steel pipes, fire-resistant shafts in residential settings, and inspections every six months. Dry risers support hose connections for water supply during fires.

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 further mandate information sharing with fire services for high-rise residential buildings (18 metres or seven storeys plus).

Which Consultants Were Awarded the Contracts and What Is Their Scope?

Frankham Risk Management and Airey Miller Ltd each received £7.8 million contracts. East London Times confirmed the firms will identify hazards under CSS requirements across estates.

The scope encompasses a “substantial” review of high-rise and mid-rise blocks. No statements from the consultants were quoted in Evening Standard or Hackney Citizen reports.

Background of the Development

The Cladding Safety Scheme (CSS), launched in July 2023, funds remediation of unsafe cladding on residential buildings over 11 metres (11-18m in London). It responds to Grenfell inquiries highlighting cladding risks.

Hackney’s actions trace to immediate post-Grenfell reviews: 1,823 Fire Risk Assessments redone and published online first among councils.

Cladding upgrades on four estates, sprinkler retro-fits and access improvements followed independent advice.

Regulatory evolution includes the Building Safety Act 2022 and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, enforcing stricter compartmentation, fire doors and high-rise data provision. Dry riser standards via BS 9990:2015 mandate installations in medium-high rises.

Prediction: Impact on Hackney Council Housing Residents

This £15.6 million review will identify fire risks in high-rise and mid-rise blocks, enabling CSS-funded remediation by 2029. Residents in estates with combustible materials may face disruptions like temporary relocations, similar to the 2019 Hoxton evacuation of 41 families.

Accelerated assessments could prioritise hazardous buildings for cladding removal or insulation fixes, as in Morris Blitz House. Door replacements nearing 7,500 by 2028 and dry risers in over 300 sites enhance evacuation times and firefighting access.

Councils like Hackney must meet 2022 regulations for seven-storey-plus blocks, potentially delaying non-priority works but ensuring compliance. Residents gain transparency via published risk assessments, though timelines depend on grant approvals.