Residents of a 15-storey tower in Dundonald, Belfast, have been told they must leave their homes due to the fire risk posed by the building’s external cladding
In a letter to Carnet House residents, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) said the decision had been made after “detailed assessments of the building’s condition and fire safety” were carried out, with closure of the building being the “only viable option”.
It is understood that the high-rise tower, comprising 72 homes, was one of several buildings that had been refurbished and reclad at the same time as the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. In 2019, the housing executive launched a tower block action plan for 33 of its high-rises, including Carnet House, outlining its steps for “retention, re-provision, and disposal”. Four blocks are expected to be demolished in early 2026, with another five scheduled later in the year.
As reported by Inside Housing, NIHE’s director of asset management, Paul Isherwood, said that the “difficult – but necessary – decision” regarding Carnet House had been made “solely in the interests of the safety, comfort, and well-being of our tenants and residents, which remains our paramount concern”.
According to the Irish Times, “short-term fire safety actions” had been underway since 2024, but it was no longer “sustainable” nor “adequate” for the Housing Executive to continue with them.
Isherwood explained: “Unfortunately, in order to address the fire risk associated with the external cladding and the ongoing problems with water penetration, we would need to initiate a substantial programme of work to remove and replace the fabric of the tower block.
“The nature of this work would be extremely disruptive and would lead to extremely difficult living conditions for residents over a prolonged period.”
He added that closure was the “most responsible and sensible option”, and it underlined the “imperative for continued investment in existing housing stock, as well as new homes, to ensure we are able to meet health, safety, and comfort standards for households across Northern Ireland.”
“We understand that Carnet House has been home to many residents over many years, and they will be concerned at the prospect of moving. Our team will be on hand to provide advice and assistance during every step of this process, to make it as smooth as possible.
“We will now move quickly to begin the relocation of all residents living in Carnet House. We have written to residents to set out the next steps and the support that will be available to them throughout this process.
“We will, of course, continue to maintain fire safety measures and repairs while the process of clearance continues.”