OWNERS of Jersey’s tallest residential blocks could face thousands of pounds in new safety costs under proposed new fire regulations.
Home Affairs Minister Deputy Mary Le Hegarat first announced the development of the Fire Safety (Tall Residential Buildings) (Jersey) Regulations earlier this year, following key recommendations made in the prior Grenfell Tower inquiry report.
Published last week, the new proposals apply to all residential buildings over 11 metres tall with two or more dwellings with communal corridors or stairways. The government has worked with the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service to develop them.
If approved, the regulations would come as Jersey’s first dedicated fire safety law that requires property owners and managers to assess and maintain fire safety measures on an ongoing basis.
They include the implementation of self-closing fire doors, smoke control systems, emergency alarm systems, and fire service lifts – which would all be required to be regularly checked and maintained.
Property owners and managers would be responsible to fund new requirements, which are estimated to come into force in April 2027 upon approval, according to the draft policy.
Jersey currently has around 140 tall residential buildings which are home to around 8,500 Islanders. The Government has previously estimated that just 19% of those meet UK fire safety standards, with the rest “at risk of falling behind” if no action is taken.
Residents, property managers, and owners were consulted on the potential changes with 40 responding with “broadly positive” feedback that informed the final draft of the new regulations.
The draft policy outlines that, in the first year of implementing requirements, owners or managers of tall buildings will incur “largely one-off” costs of between £1,800 and £8,200 depending on height and prior voluntary adoption of safety measures.
After the first year of regulation enforcement, the government estimates a yearly cost of between £360 and £770 per tall building.
Announcing the official proposals, Deputy Le Hegarat said the regulations are “logical and proportionate” in the wake of the UK’s Grenfell Tower inquiry recommendations and “will significantly improve the safety of residents and firefighters”.
She wrote: “Fire safety legislation in Jersey has fallen a long way behind the UK, other Crown dependencies and the international community.
“[If approved the regulations] will provide clarity for building owners, reassurance for residents and allow the fire and rescue service to provide oversight of fire safety in these buildings for the first time,” the Minister added.
The draft regulations are set for debate by the States Assembly on Tuesday 3 February.
