Alexandra House and Hillsborough House

The engineers confirmed there is no immediate risk and that it is safe for you and your family to remain in your home. The risks we found are about how the building might react in extreme situations, such as a large impact (for example, from a heavy vehicle), or explosion.

The surveys showed that parts of the buildings don’t meet modern structural standards. Alexandra House and Hillsborough House were built in the 1960s and building regulations have changed significantly since then. These issues only present a concern under rare, extreme events.

As part of our ongoing commitment to keeping homes safe – and in line with The Building Safety Act 2022 – we commissioned independent  surveys to better understand the structural performance of our high-rise residential buildings.

While we carried out regular maintenance and safety checks, these surveys looked in much more detail at how the blocks might perform against modern building standards.

There were no previous signs or issues that would have indicated a structural risk, and we carried out these surveys proactively. The findings are helping us to plan ahead by putting measures in place to reduce risks, while working towards a long-term solution.

No. The current stay put policy remains in place. Please check the Fire Action Notices in your building for what you need to do in the event of a fire.

As you know, over the past 18 months, Alliance Homes has carried out extensive fire safety works at both Alexandra House and Hillsborough House as part of our ongoing commitment to keeping our customers safe.

We’ve taken immediate action to further reduce the risks we found. This includes:

• Installed bollards in key areas of the buildings to prevent any impact from vehicles
• Carried out home safety visits with all households as a precaution to check for any concerns and make sure they had the right support in place

We’re continuing to take proactive steps to monitor the buildings and keep customers safe:

• Regular inspections of the buildings and ongoing monitoring
• Making sure contractors working in or around the buildings follow strict safety procedures to help prevent any accidental damage or risk
• Liaising closely with Avon Fire and Rescue Service

After taking expert advice and considering all options carefully, we have made the difficult decision that the safest and most responsible long-term solution is to demolish Alexandra House and Hillsborough House, which are both of a similar construction.

Yes, everyone living here will need to move to a new home permanently. We know this is unsettling news and we’re here to help. We will fully support you throughout this process and make sure you have time to plan.

This is something we considered very carefully.

We looked at whether it would be possible to invest in major repairs
and refurbishment. But the buildings are now over 60 years old and
would need a huge amount of work to bring them up to modern standards. Even with that investment, they still wouldn’t offer the kind of homes we want for our customers in the long term.

Refurbishing the buildings would also have meant that everyone would still need to move out - and possibly return later - which would have caused a lot of disruption and uncertainty.

After taking expert advice and thinking about what’s in the best interest of our customers now and in the future, we believe that helping  everyone move to new homes and demolishing the buildings is the most responsible option.

No, Alliance Homes will cover all reasonable costs related to your move, including removals and help with items like carpets, curtains and washer/tumble dryer if needed.

No, this situation will not affect your current rent or service charge.

When you move to a new home, the rent and service charge will be set based on that property – so they might be different to what you pay now.

We’ll make sure you know what the rent and service charge will be for any home we offer you, and we’ll support you to find somewhere that’s right for you.

There is no change to our services. We’re continuing to deliver repairs, investigate anti-social behaviour (ASB) cases and complaints, and provide any other services as normal.

• If you have an open repair, it will still be completed
• If you need to report a new repair, please do so in the usual way
• If you have an open complaint or ASB case, we’ll continue
  to investigate and keep you updated; please report any new complaint or ASB issue in the usual way
• If you’re receiving other services from Alliance Homes, such as
  tenancy support, help with your finances or wellbeing, this will
  continue as normal.

We’re here to help and will continue to provide the same level of service.

You have dedicated Tenancy Officers from Alliance Homes who will support you personally. Here are their contact details:

We will help you:

• Find a suitable alternative home that meets your needs
• Organise and pay for the move and any other reasonable moving costs
• Help with items like carpets, curtains and washer/tumble dryer if needed
• Access additional support if needed 
• A home loss compensation payment from Alliance Homes of £8,100.

We will take your individual circumstances into account and work with you to make sure your move is handled with care and sensitivity, and in a way that’s suitable for you and your family or carers.

We’ll continue to keep you updated through:

• Letters and FAQs like these
• In-person visits and drop in sessions
• Newsletters and posters
• Your dedicated Tenancy Officer
• Through this dedicated webpage

We will visit you again soon to discuss your specific needs and requirements for a new home. We will update you regularly and make sure you have plenty of notice before any major changes happen. You can also contact your Tenancy Officer directly with any questions.