London mayor mandates second staircases in blocks above 30m ‘with immediate effect’

London mayor Sadiq Khan has said all planning applications for new buildings above 30m must now have second staircases before going to the Greater London Authority (GLA) for final sign off. The Greater London Authority GLA have updated their planning website to state ‘buildings over 30 metres tall will need to be designed to provide two staircases before they are referred to us at Stage 2 for the mayor’s decision’.

The decision follows pressure from fire safety campaigners, architects, and firefighters’ bodies in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower.

It is a decision that could impact dozens of planning applications leading to them either having to re-design or reduce the height of them below the height threshold to proceed with developments.

#atimetochange #BuildingSafetyAct2022 #firesafety

Link to full article here.