The government has started distributing an estimated £400 million
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.
Secretary of State for Communities, the Rt Hon MP said:
There is nothing more important than ensuring people are safe
in their homes and that is why I am pleased the £400 million
funding has started to be released.
We are doing the right thing by residents and fully funding the
replacement of unsafe ACM cladding in
social housing buildings 18 metres or above.
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 ACMcladding have completed
remediation or are currently removing and replacing the cladding,
with plans in place for the remaining 25%. Interim fire safety
measures are in place in all affected buildings to keep residents
safe 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 published its response to this review and,
following consultation, has confirmed that it is banning the use
of combustible materials on all residential high-rise buildings
above 18 metres so that people are safe in their homes now, and
in the future. Full details of the ban and how the
recommendations of the Hackitt review will be implemented will be
published later this year.
Application process and distribution of funds
Applications for 159 buildings have been received to date and 135
applications have been approved in this first tranche of funding.
Twelve applications were not eligible for funding because they
didn’t meet the application criteria – for example the buildings
are below 18 metres, owned by commercial freeholders or the
cladding is not ACM.
Twelve applications have been deferred while building owners
provide further information so that we can confirm eligibility.
There is nothing more important than ensuring people are safe in
their homes and so the department has taken the view that
applications received after the 31 August deadline will still be
reviewed.
The government is paying 80% of the estimated eligible costs up
front when work starts, with the remaining 20% when the work is
complete and final costs are known. The funding allocated so far
comes to £248 million.
Latest building safety data
The government publishes the latest
building safety data it holds on a monthly basis,
showing how many buildings are in the process of removing and
replacing unsafe ACM cladding.
