Government slams ‘unacceptably slow’ cladding removal work
Building Safety Minister Alex Norris promises work will speed up, as spending watchdog NAO finds more than half of the buildings still not even identified.
More than half of the buildings with dangerous cladding have still not been identified, a major new report has found.
The National Audit Office (NAO) says up to 60% of blocks over 11 metres high are still be scoped for removal of cladding.
And it warns that the Government’s deadline of 2035 to complete the necessary work could be missed.
There is a long way to go before all affected buildings are made safe.”
“Seven years on from the Grenfell Tower fire, there has been progress, but there also remains considerable uncertainty about the number of buildings needing remediation, the cost of remediating them, and how long it will take to fix them and to recoup spending in the long run,” it says.
“There is a long way to go before all affected buildings are made safe, and there are risks MHCLG must address if its approach is to succeed.”
Still to be identified
Of the 9,000 to 12,000 buildings over 11 metres that the Government estimates will need work, 4,771 buildings have been listed, leaving up to 60% of affected buildings still to be identified.
Of those identified, remediation work has yet to start on half, and has completed on around a third. Of all the buildings that may need work, it has been completed on only 12–16%.
The pace of remediation to make homes safe has been unacceptably slow.”
Alex Norris, Building Safety Minister, responded: “The pace of remediation to make homes safe has been unacceptably slow. This government is taking action – meeting our commitment to invest £5.1 billion to remove dangerous cladding and making sure those responsible pay for the rest.
“This Government will protect leaseholders and empower regulators to take enforcement action against those building owners who fail to act.”
He also says a ‘Remediation Acceleration Plan’ will be issued soon.
Read the full NAO report here
