In April 2025, Helen Douglass and Stephen Stoker were appointed to the newly created Higher Risk Building Property Manager role.
In April 2025, Helen Douglass and Stephen Stoker were appointed to the newly created Higher Risk Building Property Manager role.
They have both developed their knowledge of building safety regulations under the guidance of our Building Safety Compliance Manager, Rachel Finney, and now focus on managing Kingston’s portfolio of high-rise buildings.
Together they will navigate the increasingly complex landscape of building and fire safety compliance, overseeing Building Safety Regulator registrations, working with clients to produce Building Safety Cases, reviewing and communicating legislative updates, and liaising with Fire Services and on-site teams.
Helen brings eight years of experience as a Property Manager at Kingston, while Stephen has been in the role for nearly five years. As they transition into this new role, they are already making an impact across Kingston’s higher risk portfolio, driving key projects and planning for upcoming challenges.
At Echo Building in Sunderland, Stephen has invested significant time and effort – frequently attending meetings with the project team and principal contractor and engaging with residents and leaseholders – to ensure a remediation project, five years in the making, finally commenced in March 2025. Prior to this, Stephen and Rachel worked tirelessly across several months with the Principal Accountable Person and professional consultants to support the submission of a Safety Case to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) – a first as part of the HRB portfolio.
Helen is progressing a remediation project at The Armstrong (Staiths Phase 2) in Gateshead, which is currently in the design phase and awaiting approval from the BSR. She is actively involved in project discussions with the Developer and Directors and is responsible for regular communication with residents.
Rialto in Newcastle will also require significant attention from Helen, with three blocks due to reopen this year, following a prohibition notice issued by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service in July 2023.
Kingston’s growing specialism in building safety is further reinforced by the introduction of digital noticeboards, which have already been installed at Centralofts and Parrish View. These noticeboards provide an effective platform for sharing urgent updates and highlighting key building safety information with residents, which contributes to our Resident Engagement Strategy.
These developments, along with the dedication of Helen, Stephen and the wider team, reinforce Kingston’s commitment to complying with the Building Safety Act 2022, strengthening resident engagement and enhancing overall safety across its higher risk portfolio.
