Government Releases Funding to Replace Unsafe Cladding

THE GOVERNMENT has distributed £248 million of an estimated £400 million fund to remove and replace unsafe aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding systems on social sector high-rise housing in England owned by social landlords.

Twelve local authorities and 31 housing associations are being told today (17 October 2018) that they have been allocated the money they need to cover the cost of removing and replacing unsafe ACM cladding from social, residential buildings they own which are 18 metres or higher.

This funding will enable local authorities and housing associations to get on with the job of making their buildings safe without having an impact on other vital services. As work is ongoing, costs are subject to change, and that is why the government will be closely monitoring progress.

New Cladding Funding

Secretary of State for Communities, the Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said, “In the private sector, I want to see landlords protect leaseholders from these costs. I am pleased that a number have stepped forward to do so, including Barratt Developments, Legal & General, Taylor Wimpey, Mace and Peabody. However, there are some who are not engaging in this process. If they don’t, I have ruled nothing out.”

The latest figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government show that over 75% of social housing buildings with unsafe ACM cladding have completed remediation or are currently removing and replacing the cladding, with plans in place for the remaining 25%.

Applications for 159 buildings have been received to date and 135 applications have been approved in this first tranche of funding.

Interim fire safety measures are in place in all affected buildings until the cladding has been replaced.

Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the government established a comprehensive building safety programme that included an independent review of fire safety and building regulations.

The government has confirmed that it is banning the use of combustible materials on all residential high-rise buildings above 18 metres.

Full details of the ban and how the recommendations of the Hackitt review will be implemented will be published later this year.

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