Portsmouth tower blocks: The recent history of Leamington House and Horatia House

AFTER two years the saga of two Portsmouth tower blocks could be about to come to an end.
Leamington House.Leamington House.
Leamington House.

On February 26 city councillors are set to decide whether to ‘deconstruct’ Leamington House and Horatia House in Somers Town, freeing up space for new social housing.

But how did it get to this point?

Following the Grenfell fire tragedy in June 2017 Portsmouth City Council began work to remove cladding from the blocks when they were found to be two of 158 social housing buildings across the country that failed cladding safety tests.

Leamington House.Leamington House.
Leamington House.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The cost of removing and replacing the cladding was estimated to cost about £10m in total, which central government had pledged to cover.

Read More
Portsmouth tower blocks Leamington House and Horatia House to be torn down as co...

Almost exactly a year later structural reports on both the buildings, which were built in 1965, unveiled weaknesses in the concrete used to construct them. This cast doubts over the high-rises’ ability to absorb shock from a major incident like a gas explosion.

So in June 2018 the council made the decision to issue an evacuation of all 800 residents of the towers.

Cladding being removed from Horatia House in 2017Cladding being removed from Horatia House in 2017
Cladding being removed from Horatia House in 2017

The re-housing process saw people moved into other social housing stock owned by the council across the city and in Leigh Park.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As part of the decision, all tenants being moved were entitled to a home-loss payment of £6,100 per household, at a cost of £1,653,100 to the council.

Currently 222 out of the 272 households have been re-homed, with 50 remaining.

Only 13 of these haven't yet been allocated a new home but it is thought everyone will be moved out by the end of spring.

The latest detailed report on the blocks revealed work to make the towers safe would cost about £86m.

Instead it is proposed that the blocks are torn down with the sites used for future social housing.

Councillors will decide on the plans on February 26.