MS, Cabinet Secretary for
Housing and Local Government: The Welsh Building Safety Programme
remains central to our commitment to ensuring that residents
across Wales live in safe homes.
The programme has seen considerable progress by developers over
the past year, and I am encouraged that only 17 buildings are
still awaiting surveys compared to 58 buildings in December 2024.
43 buildings are now in planning stages, with all but one due to
start works in the first half of next year. An additional 15
buildings have either completed or had works begin since January
2025.
This represents significant improvement, but I am not complacent.
I will ensure a laser focus on buildings where progress has
stalled and where possible provide government support to remove
barriers. I am encouraged by the commitment from all signatories
to the developer contract to ensure work is started at every
development in Wales by December 2026. This represents a clear
timeline that will help provide certainty to leaseholders.
I expect the needs of leaseholders and residents to be
prioritised in the planning and completion of remediation works.
I have recently published guidance to clearly
emphasise those expectations and support those involved to ensure
works are progressed quickly.
We have been working intensively with developers to ensure these
commitments translate into visible progress on the ground.
Regular monitoring meetings are held to track progress against
agreed milestones, and I can confirm that the majority of
developer-responsible buildings are now progressing through the
necessary stages of assessment, planning, and remediation.
I recognise communication with leaseholders and residents has
often fallen short of expectations. Over the past year, we have
made meaningful strides in this area. The launch of the
Leaseholder and Resident Forum has provided a vital platform for
those directly affected to share their experiences, raise
concerns, and provide feedback, ensuring leaseholders voices are
heard. I have been impressed by the constructive engagement of
forum members and the valuable insights they have provided.
Additionally, my officials have undertaken a comprehensive
programme of engagement events across Wales, ensuring that
leaseholders in different regions have had the opportunity to
access information, ask questions, and understand the support
available to them. This direct engagement has been invaluable in
ensuring that the voices of those most affected inform our
ongoing work.
Whilst I welcome the commitments made by developers, I am clear
that signing a contract is only the first step. I will continue
to closely monitor the progress of all developers who have signed
up to the contract. Where a developer is in breach of their
contractual obligations the Welsh Ministers would consider all
enforcement options available to them.
Building safety is not negotiable, and neither are the
obligations that developers have accepted. Significant progress
has been made, but there is more work to do. I remain committed
to ensuring every building in the programme receives the
remediation it needs, that leaseholders are supported throughout
this process, and that those responsible for building safety
failures are held to account.
