The Urgent Challenges of LPS Blocks: a Visit to Brighton
- towerblocksuk
- 15 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Our visit to Brighton represents the first in a series of case studies examining the experiences of local authorities managing Large Panel System (LPS) blocks. This series will provide a factual account of what we observe and learn from each location, followed by our reflections which highlight both positive aspects and concerns for wider policy and practice. By developing this format, we aim to create a template for understanding challenges and potential solutions related to LPS blocks across various geographical areas.
Visit to Brighton & Hove
On 20th November 2025, Liz Lowe and Danielle Gregory from Tower Blocks UK visited Brighton following an invitation from Darren Levy, the Interim Director of Housing Regeneration at Brighton and Hove City Council. This visit was prompted by a previous online meeting organised by the housing association Gentoo, which brought together numerous local authorities and housing associations throughout the UK to discuss the significant challenges they are facing concerning their LPS blocks.
Brighton and Hove City Council currently manages 46 tower blocks, eight of which are LPS blocks. Like many social housing providers across the country, Brighton is grappling with issues related to its LPS blocks and has faced tough decisions regarding whether to decant residents or pursue potentially costly structural strengthening. In January 2025, Ridge, an engineering firm, conducted a structural survey of Brighton's LPS blocks. Their proposal for strengthening these buildings would consume two-thirds of the council’s total housing budget. Given that Brighton manages 13,000 tenanted properties, the recommendation to strengthen the blocks would only extend their lifespan by an additional 20 years, which was deemed financially unviable. Consequently, Brighton's Cabinet has made an 'in principle' decision to demolish all eight of their LPS blocks.
During our visit, we engaged with council officers and residents. Our first stop was Dudeney Lodge and Nettleton Court, over-55s blocks where staff conduct monthly drop-ins to connect with residents. Here, we spoke with residents who expressed their concerns about leaving their long-term homes. A particularly poignant conversation took place with a resident in her 90s who had lived in Dudeney Lodge for 35 years and fondly recalled when she and her late husband established a tenants' association for the block. "We'd never had anything like this before, we never had a residents association so it just took off. This [community] room was always full, every day," she reminisced. The emotional and logistical challenges of relocating residents with deep-rooted connections to their communities cannot be overstated.
Our next destination was St James House, a 15-storey block close to the seafront containing 126 flats. Over the past 7-8 years, the structure has deteriorated significantly, with parts of its concrete facade crumbling and ongoing issues related to antisocial behaviour. In response to growing safety concerns, the building now employs overnight security guards and 24-hour fire wardens. Residents met with us in the communal room, expressing concerns about disturbances caused by new fire alarm systems and anxieties about their future housing situations.
St James House, Brighton and views from inside the building towards the seafront.
Finally, we visited the five Whitehawk blocks - medium rise buildings that house many young families. While this estate is also earmarked for regeneration, Brighton faces considerable challenges in managing the decant of its LPS blocks, particularly due to a lack of sufficient housing stock to accommodate displaced residents.
Reflections and Perspective
Our reflections from the Brighton visit underscore both positive developments and some concerns:
● Positive Engagement: Brighton and Hove City Council's openness and engagement with residents are commendable, serving as a model for other authorities.
● Challenges in Housing Stock: There is a need for increased housing options to accommodate displaced residents from LPS blocks.
● Temporary Accommodation Risks: Ongoing use of LPS blocks for temporary accommodation requires careful risk management and clear communication to tenants.
National Perspective by Tower Blocks UK
For years, Tower Blocks UK has campaigned to raise awareness of the dangers associated with LPS blocks. In 2018, we met with Dame Judith Hackitt and urged her to expand the scope of her Independent Review of Building Regulations to include Large Panel System blocks. Our efforts contributed to the publication of the new Building Safety Act and the establishment of the Building Safety Regulator, which now requires local authorities and housing associations to conduct structural assessments of their LPS blocks. These assessments reveal that many of these blocks fail to meet the minimum safety requirements for resisting disproportionate collapse, rendering them unable to secure the necessary building safety certifications.
Our position is that LPS blocks cannot be effectively strengthened to ensure permanent structural integrity or fire safety. Although many LPS blocks underwent structural strengthening in the 1970s - no further testing was done to evaluate its effectiveness at the time, we now know that this previous strengthening was ineffective, which has led to our current predicament.
It is our view that these blocks should be decanted and that relocating temporary tenants into these buildings presents risks, given the structural concerns. Although the decision to utilise LPS blocks for temporary accommodation may align with current safety assessments and strategic needs, we advocate for reducing reliance on these buildings as they present known hazards. We urge continued vigilance and preparations for safe and sustainable housing solutions.
The LPS situation across the country requires immediate government intervention to support local authorities and housing associations in addressing this crisis, rather than leaving the responsibility to individual housing providers, whose circumstances can vary significantly. The unequal distribution of LPS blocks, such as Brighton's eight compared to none in some boroughs and dozens in others, underscores the unfairness of this crisis and the necessity for a consistent national response and financial support from central government.
Urgent advocacy is required for a fair process in managing these LPS decants, prioritising the safety and well-being of all residents. Our decant guide offers some information and advice on this to both tenants and landlords.
We are very grateful to Brighton and Hove City Council for their invitation and transparency during our visit. By collaborating closely and sharing insights from various locations, we hope to influence positive change in housing policy and practice for LPS blocks across the UK.
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