Building and customer safety event at Newcastle's Northumbria Lodge

Bernicia’s Compliance, Housing and Estates teams met with Northumbria Lodge residents to talk about ‘all things safety’ in the 14 storey Cowgate high-rise building, to discuss the range of building and fire safety measures we have introduced to keep tenants safe in their homes.

We’ve introduced a comprehensive package of safety measures within Northumbria Lodge and our colleagues took time to listen to our tenants, respond to any concerns they may have and get their feedback on the safety measures we have in place.

These safety measures include:

  • Registration of the building with the Building Safety Regulator
  • Completion of a building safety case and building safety report
  • Annual fire safety letters to tenants
  • Installation of a new state-of-the-art fire sprinkler system in the building
  • Maintenance of the fire alarm system, with the introduction of a dedicated protected line to allow the system to ‘dial’ off site in the event of an activation.
  • Fitting of new fire doors throughout the building
  • Fire compartmentation work in all flats and communal areas.
  • A full structural survey of the building by a chartered structural engineer
  • A full fire survey of the make-up of external wall of the building by a chartered fire engineer.
  • Regular fire and safety inspections and weekly fire alarm checks
  • Daily general checks of the building
  • The review and updating of the fire risk assessment of the building every six months.
  • Delivery of an intensive housing management service to those customers who need safety advise and support in their home.
  • Home inspections

We also took the opportunity to involve our customers in the review of the Northumbria Lodge tenant engagement strategy, with tenants providing us with valuable feedback.

We also consulted with our residents on the following proposed works:

  • Full rewire in the communal area
  • Full external door replacement, including main entrance
  • Replacement of the communication cabinet and mast on the building roof

Bernicia Head of Compliance, Amber Welsh, said: “The tenant engagement event continues to reflect our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all residents living in our high rise block, where fire safety and structural integrity are paramount.

“During the event we had various discussions with residents, addressing any concerns and providing clear updates on current safety measures, ongoing inspections and upcoming improvement plans. The strong turnout and active participation demonstrated the community’s shared dedication to maintaining a safe living environment.

“The main takeaway from the day is that our residents feel listened to and safe in their home.”