Bristol City Council decided to temporarily evacuate Barton House tower block on Tuesday 14 November 2023 due to concerns about the building's safety.
The evacuation was taken as a precaution to allow for further, more in depth surveys and a fuller analysis of the building's structure to take place.
The findings from these surveys gave us greater confidence in the building's safety measures. Some work also took place to make the block safe for the residents to return to.
We have completed the agreed work to make the building safe, in line with the indicative findings of our contractors, and are confident that the building is safe.
Residents returned to the building from 20 February 2024.
Survey reports
The survey reports are now complete and available.
These reports, together with assurance from Avon Fire and Rescue Service and our thorough assessment of the report findings, confirm that Barton House is safe.
You can access a number of documents to help you understand the information available to us at the points of when decisions were made.
These documents include:
- pdf Residents letter 5 December 2024(52 KB)
- pdf Bristol City Council's summary report of investigations, findings, and actions(72 KB)
- pdf Ridge and Partners LLP(4.43 MB) and pdf Arup's(1.03 MB) final survey reports provided in February 2024
- Interim findings and recommendations from pdf Ridge and Partners LLP(136 KB) and pdf ARUP(102 KB)
- pdf The findings of Arup's peer-review dated November 2023(119 KB)
- pdf A report from Ridge and Partners LLP from 2022(2.01 MB)
- pdf Easton Bevins Report 2019(2.10 MB)
- pdf Easton Bevins Residents Summary 2019(42 KB)
Versions of the Bristol City Council's summary report of investigations, findings, and actions are also available in:
Recommendations made within these reports have been followed.
All essential work to install a central fire alarm system has been completed.
All additional fireproof padding of existing steel supports in the building has also been successfully completed to an approved specification.
Following a review of these reports and the work carried out, Avon Fire & Rescue service advised: "with these measures now in place, Avon Fire & Rescue Service support the decision to allow residents to reoccupy Barton House, as the risks previously identified have been addressed, in line with the recommendations of the Fire Engineers reports."
Response to the Medact, ACORN and Barton House residents report
The council takes its duty of care to residents very seriously, and we endeavour to continue to support the residents of Barton House. Our priority remains to ensure that the health and wellbeing of all residents living in council housing is supported and that their homes are safe and well maintained.
Following careful consideration and reflection on the conclusions and recommendations of the report produced by Medact and ACORN, working with residents of Barton House, a response has been delivered to all residents of the block and is available in the following languages:
If you need additional support and help, call 0117 922 2200.
If there is a problem with your home or a communal area in your block, report it on our website.
If you're thinking about making a rehousing application, or wish to discuss an existing application, the HomeChoice Bristol team can help.