Arsenal’s historic former home, Highbury, in Avenell Road

PERMISSION to replace the cladding at apartments in Arsenal’s old Highbury stadium has been granted for a second time, but frustrated flat-owners have warned that the decision brings them no closer to living in fire-safe homes.

An application to remove the cladding – which has been deemed unsafe for more than five years – was approved by the Town Hall last week, after the time period for starting work under the original permission ran out.

Developers have now been granted a window of three years to complete the work, or they will have to re-apply once more.

But leaseholders say there is little sign of change, with debates over who should pay and who can do the work raging on.

A letter from David Stead, chair of Highbury Square Management Company, the residents’ committee coordinating the works, warned that it was “highly likely” that the May 2028 deadline would be “unachievable”.

In the letter to deputy prime minister Angela Rayner sent in May, he added: “I am disappointed to report that we are still no closer to appointing a contractor to remediate the flammable cladding on the North, South and West stands of Highbury Stadium Square.”

This, he says, is because the GLA is part-funding the works and believe that proposed contractors are “too small” to take on such a project.

Adam Martin, who owned his flat in the former Arsenal stadium for 13 years before finally selling up in June, said that the situation remained “a total mess”.

He added: “People who are trying to buy an apartment there are still having issues obtaining a mortgage due to the EWS1 certificates. I’m happy that I sold, but I sold at a massively reduced cost. A lot of people who bought later than me, if they manage to sell now, they’ll sell at a huge loss.”

Meanwhile, leaseholders continue to pay £33,000 a week for a “waking watch” and members of the residents’ management com­mittee remain at an impasse with Highbury Holdings, the freeholder of the building, and the government. “Nothing has changed,” said Mr Martin. “Planning permission doesn’t mean that a contractor has signed up and there’s still no timeline.”

In a previous letter to the housing secretary, Mr Stead said that costs for the project now stood at £40million, double the original £20million quoted. The letter further urged the government to encourage Highbury Holdings to fund interim measures and contribute to the cost of the works.

An Arsenal spokesperson said earlier this year: “Highbury Holdings Limited continues to engage constructively with Highbury Square Management Company Limited (HSMCL) to identify, and agree the best way for the parties to rectify  relevant defects arising from the original building works.

“Highbury Holdings Limited takes this matter seriously and it has appointed experts to undertake this process, and to liaise with Highbury Square Management Company Limited’s experts, to resolve matters.

“The process is ongoing and there are complex and technical matters for the experts to work through, which takes time.”

They added: “It is Highbury Holdings Limited’s intention to continue to engage constructively with Highbury Square Management Company Limited and its experts in order to resolve matters as soon as practically possible.”