Wandsworth Council relocates families from overheating tower block

Wandsworth Council has begun moving temporary accommodation residents out of Britannia Point, a 19-storey tower block in Colliers Wood, after reports of extreme heat and restricted access to air conditioning. Residents told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that room temperatures reached 37°C, with one describing conditions as 'like being in an oven'.

The council confirmed it is relocating the four households it placed at the property, prioritising their welfare. A spokesperson said, as reported by the LDRS, that alternative accommodation is being arranged 'at pace'. The decision follows complaints from residents about faulty or inaccessible cooling systems during the recent heatwave.

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Air conditioning disputes and health risks

Residents reported that air conditioning units in temporary accommodation flats were either restricted or non-functional, while privately rented flats in the same building remained unaffected. Aura Asset Management Limited, which manages Britannia Point, denied blocking access to the systems. The company told the LDRS that air conditioning is available to all residents but is an optional service for which they must pay electricity costs.

Sabrina Walters, a 31-year-old mother of two placed at Britannia Point by Wandsworth Council, said her air conditioning unit became stuck at 24°C and could not be adjusted. She told the LDRS that the heat was most severe in the bedrooms where her children sleep. Another resident, placed by Sutton Council, said her child was hospitalised with heatstroke before air conditioning was briefly restored, only to be restricted again.

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Residents also cited window restrictors and large glass panels as factors worsening the heat. Some reported sitting in stairwells to escape the conditions, while only one of the building’s two lifts was operational during a recent visit by the LDRS.

Councils respond with mixed urgency

Wandsworth Council is the first to confirm it will no longer house residents at Britannia Point. Croydon Council, which has not disclosed how many households it has placed there, said it conducted welfare checks and was told by Criterion Capital, the building’s owner, that air conditioning is now operational. The council also said residents were contacted with advice on using the systems.

Sutton Council, which has 13 households at Britannia Point, told the LDRS it is 'very concerned' about the reports but has not announced plans to relocate residents. Merton Council does not currently house anyone at the property. Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh and Merton Labour councillor Stuart Neaverson have been working with residents to address the issue.

“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

What happens next

Wandsworth Council is finalising alternative accommodation for the four households it is relocating. It remains unclear whether other councils will follow its lead. Aura Asset Management Limited said it has not received reports of serious illness due to the heat and encouraged residents to contact them with concerns. Criterion Capital has not responded to requests for comment on the air conditioning restrictions.