Reviews being carried out on housing group’s blocks of six storeys or more

Housing association L&Q has said it is carrying extra checks on its properties of six storeys or more following last month’s Grenfell Tower fire.

The blaze in west London has so far claimed 80 lives.

Waqar Ahmed, group director of finance at the firm, whichmerged with East Thames last December and now owns and manages more than 90,000 homes across London and the South East, said: “We visit sheltered housing schemes and tower blocks once a year to review fire safety. However, we are carrying out additional safety reviews of all blocks over six storeys. We have taken the extra precaution of surveying the cladding on these blocks.”

Earlier this year, L&Q bought land business Gallagher Estates to take its total number of development plots to over 85,000. L&Q and London mayor Sadiq Khan recently announced a strategic partnership to invest £8bn in 20,000 new homes across the capital.

The firm has reported a record £332m surplus in its latest results, a £53m increase on the previous year.

The housing group, which has a planned construction pipeline of 100,000 new homes, also increased turnover 20% to £756m for the year to March 2017.

Non-social housing revenue increased to 26% from 23% in the previous period.

During the year, L&Q completed 2,552 new homes, of which 1,536 were affordable. Building work started on 2,590 homes, and a further 4,190 were approved.