Key Points
- The Metropolitan Police are investigating the tragic death of 23-year-old Joshua Robbins as potential corporate manslaughter, a pre-inquest review at St Pancras Coroner’s Court was told.
- Joshua Robbins fell to his death on January 29 after safety railings on the fifth-floor communal landing of Holland and Thurston Dwellings in Holborn, central London, collapsed while he was checking on a takeaway pizza delivery.
- His father, Will Robbins, witnessed the harrowing incident unfold.
- The building’s landlord, the Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association (ISHA), is fully cooperating with the ongoing police inquiry.
- Detective Inspector Mark Paterson reported that the force is actively liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) as inquiries continue.
- Joshua’s mother, Fiona Garrett, has launched a campaign advocating for greater transparency from social landlords regarding high-rise building safety standards and maintenance.
Holborn (The Londoner News) July 22, 2026 — The investigation into the death of a young man who plummeted from a central London residential block after balcony railings catastrophically gave way has escalated, with police now probing the incident as potential corporate manslaughter.
Joshua Robbins, 23, had ordered a takeaway pizza to his flat at Holland and Thurston Dwellings on Newton Street in Holborn to share with his father, Will Robbins. At approximately 8:19 PM on January 29, Mr Robbins went out onto the communal landing near the lifts to check on the delivery’s arrival when he leaned against the barrier, which abruptly collapsed.
As reported by Ella Jessel of Inside Housing, Mr Robbins’ parents stated in a joint message: “This is not an allegation or speculation. The railing gave way. Our son did not climb it or behave recklessly. A safety barrier that was meant to prevent a fall gave way, with catastrophic consequences.” Will Robbins, 49, watched helplessly as his son fell five storeys to his death. Emergency services, including the London Ambulance Service, rushed to the scene, but despite their best efforts, Mr Robbins was pronounced dead on impact, having suffered injuries described by medics as “not compatible with life”.
Why Is the Metropolitan Police Investigating Corporate Manslaughter?
During a pre-inquest review hearing at St Pancras Coroner’s Court, Detective Inspector Mark Paterson provided an update to senior coroner Mary Hassell, confirming that the Metropolitan Police’s inquiry is being treated under potential corporate manslaughter.
As reported by ITV News, Detective Inspector Mark Paterson stated: “It’s an ongoing investigation, a lot of the material is held by ISHA who are fully compliant with requests that are being made at this stage.”
The detective added that the scene was thoroughly examined immediately following the tragedy, a forensic structural engineer was deployed to analyze the structural failure, and extensive CCTV footage has been recovered. Furthermore, the investigating team has been liaising closely with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police released a statement emphasizing the complexity of the ongoing inquiries: “At this time our investigation remains ongoing, and we continue to liaise with the Crown Prosecution Service while enquiries continue. These enquiries can take some time given the nature of the investigation and complexities.”
What Is the Housing Association’s Response to the Tragedy?
Holland and Thurston Dwellings is a Victorian-era tenement block converted into apartments in the 1980s and is owned and managed by the Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association (ISHA).
Offering a formal statement regarding the ongoing legal proceedings, Pippa Fleetwood-Read, chief executive at ISHA, told Inside Housing reporter Eliza Parr:
“Joshua’s tragic death at the end of January has been deeply distressing for everyone who knew him. We offer our heartfelt and sincerest condolences to them.”
Ms Fleetwood-Read added:
“We hope people understand that whilst investigations are ongoing it is not appropriate for us to comment further. We continue to give our full co-operation to the police and other authorities, and we hope that these investigations conclude swiftly so Joshua’s family can get the answers they seek.”
In the wake of the accident, photographs shared publicly by the grieving family appeared to show sections of the fifth-floor communal balcony completely lacking a protective rail, with temporary wooden boarding subsequently erected behind barriers on other levels. Residents and family members have continuously questioned the historic maintenance records, asking when safety checks were last administered and whether prior concerns regarding structural corrosion were ignored.
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How Are Joshua Robbins’ Family and Campaigners Responding?
The devastating loss has prompted national grief and advocacy. Joshua’s mother, Fiona Garrett, has spoken extensively about the preventability of the accident, spearheading a campaign for tighter safety protocols across social housing blocks.
As reported by Inside Housing, Ms Garrett reflected on the long-term emotional toll:
“This process is extremely painful and re-traumatising for our family. Every hearing and every update forces us to return to the events of that devastating evening.”
In her efforts to secure accountability, Ms Garrett contacted her local Member of Parliament, former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, to demand rigorous structural safety reforms under a campaign initiative titled ‘No More Falls’.
Kate Henderson, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, addressed the wider sector implications, stating: “Our thoughts are with Joshua Robbins’ family at this incredibly difficult time. We are awaiting the outcome of the police investigation into Joshua’s death to fully establish how this happened and what steps need to be taken to ensure this never happens again. In the meantime, we are engaging with housing associations to understand their processes for checking the safety of railings and balconies and to identify what further support we can provide.”
When Will the Inquest Resume?
Senior coroner Mary Hassell agreed to adjourn the formal inquest proceedings to allow the police and forensic investigations to run their full course. Detective Inspector Paterson informed the court that he anticipates providing a comprehensive update regarding the investigative milestones by January. Consequently, a further pre-inquest review has been formally scheduled at St Pancras Coroner’s Court for January 6, 2027.
