Ballymore withdrew a planning application for a 51-storey tower block (above) in Canary Wharf last week after the London Fire Brigade raised concerns about the lack of a second means of escape from the building. Fire engineer Arnold Tarling told The Guardian that such designs were "utter madness".The Anglo-Irish developer confirmed that it had made the decision to withdraw the application just hours before Tower Hamlets councillors were due to consider it. The committee had been expected to approve the scheme, designed by architect Morris + Company with Rolfe Judd as planning consultant, after a recommendation from planning officials.Current regulations allow residential tower blocks to be built with a single means of escape where the design allows a "stay put" strategy in the event of a fire, with the block resisting the spread of fire between apartments. However, many countries require at least two fire escapes for tall buildings, and critics say that such designs ignore the lessons from the fire at Grenfell Tower, where "stay put" advice led residents to remain in the burning building and await rescue.
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