Major work to remove flammable, Grenfell-style cladding from a town centre apartment block can take place.

The management company of the Paramount Building, on Princes Street, has had permission approved by Swindon Borough Council to remove the expanded polystyrene (EPS), foam insulation and timber cladding that wraps the building.

It already had permission granted in 2022 to remove the render and cladding on the building on Princess Street Beckhampton Street and the Travelodge Hotel, but had to return with a new proposal, and seek a certificate of lawfulness because the council had given permission for a replacement of wood cladding with that of a specific colour, which is no longer available.

Paramount (Swindon) Management Company Ltd had to source different cladding as close as possible in colour and get the council to approve a new application.

In a covering letter the management company said: “It should be noted that there is a clear importance to remediate the building as soon as possible both from a resident’s safety perspective and the timescales required from [the government’s] Building Safety Fund. 

That approval has now been granted, after a two-year delay because of the planning process.

The council’s report says: “The proposal seeks to re-clad the building in order to meet safety requirements subsequent to new legislation in place following the Grenfell fire and Inquiry recommendations as required the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

“This has already been deemed acceptable. The previously agreed colour finish has been discontinued and the proposed new cladding would result in the removal of the cedar cladding and replacement a new walnut brown colour which is the closest possible match."

The original 2022 application included an inspection of the building which proved the importance of getting the cladding and render changed.

It said: “This building has external walls that include a large portion of combustible materials, i.e. EPS insulation, foam insulation and timber cladding. As such, the consequences of a fire affecting or involving the materials in the external walls has the potential to be significant.” 

A spokesperson for the property management company said: “We look forward to working with all parties to support the completion of the remedial works required at Paramount.  

“This includes working alongside the appointed contractor to submit an amended planning application to ensure we are compliant with current legislative requirements.  

“We welcome the news that remedial works have started, and we’ll continue to do all we can to support leaseholders, including keeping them regularly updated as the works progress.” 

Seventy-two people died when the Grenfell Tower in London caught fire in June 2017, with the blaze spreading up the building because of the flammable cladding.