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The average number of staff working in Civil Service headquarter buildings (weekly and monthly).

Guidance for members of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) who are drafting bills to be considered in Parliament.

If it wasn’t already known to be ‘Good Friday’ it would be now, as last week the Department for Levelling Up finally published guidance for the second staircase rule.

The changes to the government’s building guidance covering fire safety, otherwise known as Approved Document B, make it crystal clear that a second staircase is required in a tall block of flats that reach 18 metres or taller.

It also confirmed the end date of the transition period for the rules as 30th September 2026 and revealed that evacuation lifts will not be a requirement.

The new guidelines follow Michael Gove’s announcement last year that the government will impose a requirement for second staircases on all new buildings that are 18 metres or taller. Initially, the requirement was set at 30 metres when the consultation on the policy was launched.

In addition, the guidance specified that interlocked stairs ‘do not constitute an alternative means of escape’ and should always be considered as a single escape route.

Through introducing these new requirements, the government have separated provisions for horizontal escape and vertical escape.

According to the Approved Document B amendments: ‘Where evacuation lifts are provided, these should be located within an evacuation shaft containing a protected stairway, evacuation lift and evacuation lift lobby. 

‘An evacuation lift lobby should provide a refuge area for those waiting for the evacuation lift, have direct access to a protected stairway and not be directly accessible from any flat, maisonette, storage room or electrical equipment room.’

Housing minister, Lee Rowley, said: ’The change in guidance to include two staircases for buildings over 18 metres provides clarity for developers and ensures both new and existing buildings provide safe and secure homes for all residents.’

Plans to install second staircases in huge residential buildings came after the tragic incident at Grenfell Tower. They help to ensure adequate access for both firefighters and a possible full evacuation of residents in the structures.

Image: Junar Eliang

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Leicester City Council have agreed on plans to borrow over £40m to buy properties in a desperate attempt to ease the growing housing emergency.

As the cost-of-living continues to bite and interest rates are set to stick at 5.25% for the foreseeable, demands for affordable housing are increasing. Without action, Leicester City Council have said they would face extra costs of £23m in the coming financial year.

Against this backdrop, the local authority are set to borrow £45m so they can purchase more homes. Overall, 225 properties will be bought to use as temporary accommodation and a further 125 will be leased at affordable rent rates.

Previously, this idea was put to councillors in January although it was withdrawn after legal concerns were raised.

City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, said the matter was ‘legally complex’ and the council would be using the time to seek assurances from the government that its proposals were above board. In addition councillors were also concerned that the borrowing costs would come from the general budget rather than a pot of money specifically set aside for housing.

However, this time around councillors have been assured that other authorities have undertaken similarly funded purchases without problems. Although, Patrick Kitterick, a councillor for the Green Party, warned, just because legal action has not yet been taken on cases like this, it doesn’t mean it can be ruled out in future.

The most recent published housing waiting list figures for Leicester display just how much new affordable housing is needed. In January this year, 6,431 people were on the list and more than 5,0000 can expect to wait more than five years for a suitable home.

In addition, the number of people without a permanent place to call home is also increasing. In August 2022, there were 94 households in temporary accommodation across the city and by December 2023 the number had soared to 332.

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