Residents urged to leave flats for temporary accommodation over fire risk

Residents at a block of flats in Edinburgh have been advised to leave their homes after an investigation revealed the building was a fire risk.

Bonnington Bond on Breadalbane Street in Edinburgh has not been evacuated, but owners Persimmon Homes have strongly advised that tenants leave.

Immediate temporary accommodation has been offered for all affected, an email sent to residents said on Monday.

STV News spoke to residents last year who said they had long held concerns about cladding on the building, which they believed could have been a factor in a fire in March 2024.

In October, some residents said they had been locked out of their properties for more than a year and a half after the fire ripped through their block.

The fire left two firefighters injured, and a number of residents living in the damaged homes have been unable to return since.

It had been identified as one of 105 buildings included in the Scottish Government’s cladding remediation programme.

Persimmon Homes said it would support those affected until the matter is resolved.

A spokesperson for Persimmon Homes and the Bond Building Owners Committee said: “Following recent detailed investigations of the building, experts have advised that residents should relocate from their apartments as a precautionary measure.

“Persimmon Homes is offering immediate temporary accommodation to all affected residents.

“Persimmon Homes apologises for the obvious inconvenience and concern this will cause to all residents and will continue to provide ongoing support until the situation is resolved.”