Fire safety lapses revealed in Swindon high-rise blocks following inspections
Reports highlight compromised fire resistance and essential maintenance gaps
Recent fire safety reports on Swindon Borough Council's high-rise blocks have uncovered significant issues affecting fire resistance due to unperformed or undocumented essential checks.
Six buildings—Seagry Court, Cleverton Court, Hatherleigh Court, Torrington Court, Milverton Court, and Upavon Court—underwent inspections in January and February 2026, revealing varying levels of risk.
Seagry and Hatherleigh Courts were assessed as high risk, three towers were identified as medium risk, and Cleverton Court was deemed low risk.
Problems such as compromised fire doors, inadequate maintenance of safety systems, and structural gaps that threaten fire integrity were among the findings.
Seagry Court
Issues include frequent false alarms, improperly identified gas isolation valves, missing fire dampers, and unsecured dry riser inlet cupboard glass.
Hatherleigh Court
Concerns highlighted dragging fire doors, inappropriate ventilation grills, and absent inspection evidence for lightning protection systems.
Upavon Court and Milverton Court
Both reveal problematic ceiling gaps undermining floor fire integrity, alongside significant door-to-frame gaps affecting seal effectiveness.
Torrington Court
Similar structural deficiencies were identified, including improper use of materials like pink foam above flat doors.
Cleverton Court
Inefficient self-closing devices on fire doors and large gaps affecting intumescent seals were noted.
The Davis Murray John Tower inspection, conducted in October 2024 during the building’s vacating, noted incomplete actions from a 2021 assessment.
This included wiring testing, emergency system servicing, and fire alarm checks.
Additionally, recommendations such as updating resident evacuation lists and fire warden training records went unfulfilled.
Earlier this year, Swindon Borough Council announced plans to rehouse tenants from the DMJ tower to other buildings due to overall building conditions.
These inspection reports underscore a pressing need for rigorous adherence to fire safety protocols, aiming to improve safety within Swindon Borough Council housing.