Grenfell Tower cladding firm sees work on Berkshire tower 'halted'

Harley Facades has had its work on a housing scheme in Berkshire suspended since last week’s fire at Grenfell Tower – and left another in central London.

The firm, which carried out cladding work on Grenfell Tower last year on a £2.6m contract, has had its contract with Comer Group “halted”, the developer said.

Comer Group is redeveloping the site of a 1960s office block, in Bracknell, Berkshire into a 19-storey building housing 311 new homes.

Comer Group said in a statement: “Comer Group has of course been greatly saddened by the immense tragedy which occurred at Grenfell.

“Whilst making no assumptions on cause or contribution, until such time as the investigatory authorities provide their reports, the directors felt it incumbent upon them to act immediately to preclude any undue risk being incorporated into our own construction.

“Thus, on Wednesday 14^th June, the prospective façade contract was halted.

“We have now returned the matter of facade design and construction methods to our consultants and asked for a rigorous re-assessment of the best information and knowledge base to assist in planning this and other developments.”

Harley Facades was also due to work on the conversion of an office building called Compass House near Paddington train station into 30 high end residential apartments designed by Brimelow McSweeny.

A spokesperson for 8build, the main contractor on the project, said the firm had “gone” from the project and the search was underway for a replacement subcontractor.

A spokesperson for Harley Facades said it understood that Comer Homes had suspended the contract but as yet hadn’t confirmed anything.

The spokesperson added that the firm had withdrawn within the last 48 hours from the contract on Compass House which was for windows and sliding doors.