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 have been told 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 James Brokenshire 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 ACM cladding 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.
