Wandsworth Council relocates families from overheating tower block
Residents report temperatures reaching 37°C in Britannia Point flats due to faulty air conditioning
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Only one source (LDRS) quoted, no independent corroboration of claims.
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No right of reply from Wandsworth Council or Aura in this outlet's coverage.
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Headline overstates 'oven' conditions with no direct evidence in body.
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Wandsworth Council has begun moving temporary accommodation residents out of Britannia Point, a 19-storey tower block in Colliers Wood, after reports of room temperatures reaching 37°C. The council confirmed it is rehousing four households placed in the building, citing concerns over air conditioning failures and unsafe living conditions during the current heatwave.
Residents told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that air conditioning units in their flats are either stuck or restricted, with one tenant, Sabrina Walters, saying her unit remains fixed at 24°C despite repeated attempts to adjust it. Walters, a mother of two, said the heat is most intense in the bedrooms where her children sleep.
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Residents in temporary accommodation at Britannia Point reported air conditioning was disabled during extreme heat, leading to heatstroke
Window restrictors worsen heat issues
Residents said window restrictors, which limit how far windows can open, prevent adequate ventilation. The building’s large glass windows absorb heat throughout the day, making flats uncomfortably warm. Walters described seeing neighbours sitting in stairwells to escape the heat, adding that only one of the building’s two lifts is currently working.
Aura Asset Management Limited, which manages Britannia Point, said the air conditioning systems are fully operational and available to all residents, including those in temporary accommodation. The company told the LDRS that residents are responsible for electricity costs and that it has never instructed anyone not to use the air conditioning. It added that all residents are informed before moving in that air conditioning is an optional service.
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Air conditioning in that building is not an amenity, it is essential. Criterion Capital need to urgently explain how the air conditioning was ever turned off in their building during a heatwave for vulnerable families.
Stuart Neaverson, Merton Labour councillor
Other councils review placements
Croydon Council said it had carried out welfare checks on residents placed at Britannia Point and was told by Criterion Capital that air conditioning was now switched on. Sutton Council, which has placed 13 households in the building, said it was "very concerned" about the reports and had contacted Aura Asset Management for clarification.
Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh and Merton councillor Stuart Neaverson have been working with residents to raise the issue. Neaverson praised Wandsworth Council for removing its families but called on other councils to follow suit, saying no council should house residents in a building where tenant health is disregarded.
It is unclear how many households remain in temporary accommodation at Britannia Point. Aura Asset Management said it had not received any reports of residents becoming seriously ill due to the heat but encouraged anyone with concerns to contact the company directly.
What happens next
Wandsworth Council said it is working to secure alternative accommodation for the four households being moved out of Britannia Point. Other councils, including Croydon and Sutton, are reviewing the situation and have not yet announced plans to relocate residents. Merton Council does not currently place any households in the building.
Questions this report answers
+Why is Wandsworth Council moving families out of Britannia Point?
Wandsworth Council is relocating four temporary accommodation households after residents reported room temperatures reaching 37°C due to faulty air conditioning and poor ventilation. The council said resident welfare is its priority.
+What is wrong with the air conditioning at Britannia Point?
Residents say units are either stuck or restricted, with one tenant reporting her air conditioning remains fixed at 24°C. Aura Asset Management claims the systems are fully operational and available to all residents.
+Which other councils are involved with Britannia Point?
Croydon and Sutton councils have placed households in Britannia Point. Croydon said it carried out welfare checks, while Sutton said it was "very concerned" about the reports and had contacted the building’s management.
+What happens next for residents at Britannia Point?
Wandsworth Council is securing alternative accommodation for its four households. Other councils are reviewing the situation but have not announced plans to relocate residents. Aura Asset Management said it had not received reports of serious illness.
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