Empire Reach
Building safety in our blocks
After engaging with customers living in our tall buildings to understand your needs better and to make sure we know how best to share important information about your building with you, we've produced a Building Safety Customer Engagement Strategy for each high-rise block.
Read the Empire Reach Building Safety Customer Engagement Strategy [pdf] 3MB
Update — September 2026
We continue to work closely with our developer, Chartway Partnerships Group, on structural investigations. Temporary propping (a support structure) may be required within Block 1–19 to allow further investigations to be safely carried out. We're currently waiting on a specialist building report from Chartway, which we expect by the end of September 2026, which will help to confirm next steps.
We've also commissioned our own independent investigation so that we're ready to progress what needs to be done as swiftly as possible. The consultant we've appointed is undertaking a desktop review before attending site. We'll write to all customers to inform them of dates, timing and access requirements prior to the site visits happening.
If you have any questions, please contact Chartway on 01622 740145 or customerservice@chartwaygroup.co.uk, or our Building Safety team on building.safety@goldinghomes.org.uk or 0300 777 2600.
What are we doing?
We're currently carrying out structural investigations at Empire Reach, working with our developer, Chartway Partnerships Group, following the identification of a structural issue relating to the timber frame construction of the building. We've also commissioned our own independent investigation to help us progress what's needed as swiftly as possible.
There's no change to our safety advice as a result of these investigations, and we're keeping Kent Fire and Rescue Service informed throughout. The external fire remediation works referenced further down this page will follow once the full extent of the structural issue has been identified and any necessary remediation completed.
If you have any questions, please contact Chartway on 01622 740145 or customerservice@chartwaygroup.co.uk.
We’ll be posting the latest news for Empire Reach here, so please visit this page to stay up-to-date.
Evacuation plan for Empire Reach
During these works we've had to change the evacuation strategy at Empire Reach from ‘stay put’ to ‘simultaneous evacuation’ and have installed a fire alarm system to support this. If you hear the alarm sound you should leave the building following fire signage to your nearest safe exit – do not use the lifts in event of fire.
The safe muster point is at the promenade to the rear of Empire Reach, accessed by the side pathway. Any muster point must be a safe and clear distance from the building and this location is following guidance supported by the Fire & Rescue Service
Once all required works are complete, we'll remove the fire alarm and revert back to the original ‘stay put’ policy.
What is a Personal Escape Plan?
A Personal Escape Plan is what you would follow in event of a fire in your building. For your own safety, it’s important you and your family all know what to do in the event of a fire. If there's anyone in your household who in the event of an emergency, may not be able to quickly reach a place of safety unaided, or may need additional support in the event of a fire, please email building.safety@goldinghomes.org.uk so that we can work with them to make sure they remain safe.
Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) and EWS1 forms
A fire risk assessment is an inspection of a building and its use, structure and the occupants. It identifies any potential fire safety hazards and risks present and provides recommendations on how those risks can be managed to keep the people living in the building safe.
If you'd like a copy of the fire risk assessment for Empire Reach, please get in touch with the Building Safety Team using the contact details below.
Your building’s fire risk assessment may include some actions, which we'll complete by the due date stated.
A fire consultancy will be involved throughout the project to ensure an External Wall Survey 1 (EWS1) form will be issued after work is completed. EWS1 forms are required by mortgage lenders.
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact us via building.safety@goldinghomes.org.uk or call 0300 777 2600 and ask for someone in the Building Safety Team.