The brigade warns EV buses pose risks “not fully understood by the industry at this point in time”, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has raised concerns over plans for an electric bus garage in Edgware town centre amid an ongoing dispute over the design’s safety.

The plans submitted earlier this year by joint developers Ballymore and Transport for London (TfL) include a range of high-rise tower blocks comprising 3,365 new homes in total, some of which would sit on top of an underground garage built for an electric vehicle (EV) fleet of up to 190 buses.

In a letter to Barnet Council sent in October, LFB gave additional insight on the redevelopment. The brigade wrote the potential for so many EV buses posed risks “not fully understood by the industry at this point in time” and general expectations of guidance could be “inadequate” in protecting the structural elements of the garage and the blocks of flats above it in the case of an EV bus fire.

LFB also stated the number of firefighter lifts proposed in the design should be “reviewed”. 

Noting the proposal included one such lift, LFB highlighted there should be “sufficient numbers” provided so if one went out of service there was “at least one” still available.

Amid the warnings from LFB the ‘Save Our Edgware’ campaign group, which has opposed the plans for a number of years, has called for the application to be “withdrawn”. 

Tony Allan, chair of Edgware Community Association, said it was time the developer acknowledged the “significant concerns raised”.

He said: “Their proposal not only jeopardises public safety but also disregards the overwhelming opposition from the community. They should withdraw the current application to avoid further unnecessary strain on the council’s resources and public funds.”

An LFB spokesperson said: “The structural integrity of the residential blocks above the garage are intrinsically dependent on the structural integrity of the garage below. Any decision on this application must take into account the impact a fire involving electric vehicles might have on the stability of the buildings. 

“It is acknowledged that more research is required to better understand the specific nature of fires involving large electric vehicles and their impact on structures such as this. 

“While further detailed plans are expected to be submitted over time, we have highlighted safety issues in our response and we strongly recommend that a development of this scale should be supported by a comprehensive, site-wide fire strategy report.”

A council spokesperson said that following LFB’s response, the council’s “detailed assessment” of the issues would continue. They said: “Issues of fire safety are of paramount importance, and we take them very seriously. We remain in dialogue with LFB on this outline planning application.

“We are continuing to carry out a detailed assessment of the issues raised by LFB in their comments dated 1st October with both LFB and the applicant.

“Both LFB and the council will need to be satisfied that all issues concerning the fire safety strategy for the current application can be addressed.”

A spokesperson for developers Ballymore and TfL reiterated that “ongoing dialogue” with LFB was taking place and “further information” on the bus garage and wider scheme “will be developed as part of the planning process in the coming years”. 

They highlighted the benefit of electric buses, including cleaner air, and said: “As set out in the planning application the detailed design of the bus garage will be progressed with electric buses in mind and planning conditions related to the occupation of the garage by electric buses were also proposed in the same documents. 

“As we have stated previously, the bus garage at Edgware will not be operational until 2030 at the earliest and we remain clear that no electric vehicles will be permitted until LFB, the council, the Health and Safety Executive and building control have approved the design.”

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