Britain's problematic exterior wall materials require urgent resolution: a hazardous predicament needing immediate action in the UK
In a recent update, the National Audit Office (NAO) has revealed the UK government's plans to accelerate the identification and rectification of buildings with dangerous cladding. This report follows a previous study conducted by the NAO in 2020.
The government's strategies include the imposition of strict legal deadlines and enforcement, expanded funding and support, a national remediation system, accelerated identification and engagement, and a Building Safety Levy.
Strict Legal Deadlines and Enforcement
New legislation, the Remediation Bill, will impose strict deadlines for remediation. Buildings over 18 metres must be fixed by the end of 2029, and those between 11 and 18 metres by the end of 2031. Failure to comply without reasonable excuse may result in unlimited fines or imprisonment. The government will have powers to bypass landlords and complete works if necessary.
Expanded Funding and Support
Over £1 billion in funding is now available to social landlords, giving housing associations and councils access to the same government funding as private owners. Funding will also support exceptional remediation on buildings under 11 metres where no other funding exists. Long-term support for leaseholders will help replace costly interim safety measures.
National Remediation System
A new centralized National Remediation System, supported by Homes England, will consolidate safety data, improve oversight, and hold landlords publicly accountable. This system will accelerate the identification of buildings with unsafe cladding and streamline remediation tracking.
Accelerated Identification and Engagement
The government is actively working to identify all buildings over 11 metres with unsafe cladding and estimate those still requiring remediation. Homes England has reviewed buildings nationwide and promotes a “tell us” tool through local authorities to help residents and leaseholders report concerns about their buildings.
Building Safety Levy
A new Building Safety Levy will be introduced from October 2026, expected to raise £3.4 billion over the next decade to fund remediation works, supporting sustainable financing of this work.
These steps form part of an updated Remediation Acceleration Plan aimed at ensuring that by the end of 2029, every 11m+ building with unsafe cladding will have either completed remediation, scheduled completion, or be subject to penalties.
However, the report also highlights that up to 60% of buildings with dangerous cladding have not been identified by the government, and the NAO suggests additional measures should be considered to speed up progress in identification and rectification. As of August 2024, around 7,200 buildings in England with dangerous cladding remain unidentified.
The Local Government Association (LGA) has expressed concerns about the barriers councils face in accessing existing funding schemes for cladding remediation. Councillor Adam Hug, the LGA's spokesperson for building safety, stated that councils face significant barriers in accessing these schemes.
The deadline for the government to have all unsafe buildings checked and repaired is 2035, and the new investment is intended to help the government meet this deadline. The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced in the Autumn Budget that the government will invest more than one billion into buildings with dangerous cladding in 2025-26.
The latest investment announced by the government is expected to be used in 2025-26. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) was assessed in the report for its progress in replacing dangerous cladding from tower blocks in England.
The Grenfell Inquiry concluded in September, finding risks in the tower block were frequently dismissed and individuals responsible for selling and creating the cladding involved in the fire which killed 72 people showed 'systematic dishonesty'. The new investment announced in the Autumn Budget is not the first time the government has allocated funds for cladding remediation; since 2020, there has been a substantial increase in remediation activity.
The new report on the progress of the government in rectifying cladding issues in Britain does not mention any specific plans for mandatory registration for medium-rise buildings. The latest NAO report can be found in full here. The LGA has welcomed the government's intention to address this issue and is awaiting further details.
- The National Audit Office (NAO) has unveiled the UK government's plans to expedite the discovery and correction of buildings with harmful cladding.
- This development follows a previous study conducted by the NAO in 2020.
- The Remediation Bill, new legislation, imposes strict deadlines for remediation, with buildings over 18 metres needing completion by the end of 2029 and those between 11 and 18 metres by 2031.
- Failure to comply may lead to unlimited fines or imprisonment, and the government will have the authority to bypass landlords and complete works if necessary.
- Over £1 billion in funding is now available to social landlords, offering housing associations and councils the same government funding as private owners.
- Funding will also support exceptional remediation on buildings under 11 metres where no other funding exists.
- The government aims to replace costly interim safety measures with long-term support for leaseholders.
- A new centralized National Remediation System, backed by Homes England, will centralize safety data, improve oversight, and keep landlords publicly accountable.
- This system will speed up the identification of buildings with unsafe cladding and streamline remediation tracking.
- The government is actively working to identify all buildings over 11 metres with unsafe cladding and estimate those still requiring remediation.
- Homes England promotes a “tell us” tool through local authorities to help residents and leaseholders report concerns about their buildings.
- A new Building Safety Levy will be introduced in October 2026, expected to raise £3.4 billion over the next decade to fund remediation works.
- By the end of 2029, the government aims to have every 11m+ building with unsafe cladding either completed, scheduled, or subject to penalties.
- However, up to 60% of buildings with dangerous cladding have yet to be identified by the government.
- As of August 2024, around 7,200 buildings in England with dangerous cladding remain unidentified.
- The Local Government Association (LGA) has expressed concerns about the barriers councils face in accessing existing funding schemes for cladding remediation.
- Councillor Adam Hug, the LGA's spokesperson for building safety, stated that councils face significant barriers in accessing these schemes.
- The deadline for the government to have all unsafe buildings checked and repaired is 2035, and the new investment is intended to help the government meet this deadline.
- The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced in the Autumn Budget that the government will invest more than one billion into buildings with dangerous cladding in 2025-26.
- The latest investment announced by the government is expected to be used in 2025-26.
- The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) was assessed in the report for its progress in replacing dangerous cladding from tower blocks in England.
- The Grenfell Inquiry concluded in September, finding risks in the tower block were frequently dismissed and individuals responsible for selling and creating the cladding involved in the fire which killed 72 people showed 'systematic dishonesty'.
- Since 2020, there has been a substantial increase in remediation activity.
- The latest NAO report does not mention any specific plans for mandatory registration for medium-rise buildings.
- The LGA has welcomed the government's intention to address this issue and is awaiting further details.
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