Newbury Racecourse Collects Fire Watches Faster Than Trophies

A third apartment building at Newbury Racecourse has been placed under a 24-hour waking watch after inspectors discovered defects in parts of its external wall system, extending a fire safety issue that had already affected two vicinal residential blocks. Bregawn House, managed by Sovereign Network Group (SNG), was inspected after similar defects were identified earlier this year at Carruthers Court and Chatham House. All three buildings were constructed at the same time using comparable designs by David Wilson Homes before the company became part of Barratt Redrow. According to SNG, defects were found in some external wall cavity barriers, which could affect the building's performance in the unlikely event of a fire. As a precaution, the housing provider has introduced a 24-hour waking watch while enhanced fire detection and alarm systems are installed. The organisation has also completed a fire risk assessment and says residents will continue to receive updates as remedial work progresses. A waking watch involves trained fire safety personnel continuously patrolling a building, both inside and outside, to detect potential fire hazards and support a rapid emergency response until permanent safety are in place. Newbury Racecourse confirmed that all other residential properties on the estate successfully passed external wall assessments carried out together in November last year, with no comparable defects identified outside the three affected buildings. The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it is working closely with the building's management company to ensure appropriate fire safety measures remain in place throughout the remediation process. Local MP Lee Dillon said resident safety had been emphasize, highlighting the introduction of the waking watch and plans to install a new alarm system. He also noted that lease holders in the previously affected racecourse buildings had not been required to bear the costs of the temporary fire safety measures, offering reassurance to residents concerned about potential financial impacts. The latest discovery underscores the importance of ongoing inspections of residential buildings with similar construction methods, while authorities and property managers continue efforts to strengthen fire safety and complete the necessary repairs.