The government has confirmed in the Queen’s Speech that it
will bring forward legislation to tighten building safety standards for high
rise residential buildings.
In her speech setting out a summary of the government’s
intended legislative programme, the Queen stated that her ministers would
“bring forward laws to implement new building safety standards”.
The government, in a briefing document on the Queen’s speech,
said the legislation would “put in place new and modernised regulatory regimes
for building safety and construction products, ensuring residents have a
stronger voice in the system”.
A new safety framework for high rise residential buildings
which will take forward the recommendations from Dame Judith Hackitt’s
Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, published after the
Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017.
In some areas, the Government says it will go beyond Dame
Judith’s recommendations, such as new laws to provide clearer accountability
for responsible for the safety of high rise buildings throughout their design,
construction and occupation.
It also plans to significantly increase “enforcement and
sanctions” to discourage non-compliance with the new regulations.
Responding to plans
for a Building Safety Bill announced in today’s Queen’s Speech, Lord Porter,
building safety spokesman for the Local Government Association, said: “Reform
of our broken building safety system cannot come soon enough so we are pleased that
today’s Queen’s Speech includes a Bill to enshrine a tough new system into law.
“Designers,
developers, product manufacturers and building owners need to be given clear
duties in relation to building safety and clear guidance on those duties.
It is important that the new regulatory framework does not create a two-tier
safety system. To avoid this we need a partnership between the new building
regulator, councils and fire services, with local authorities given effective
powers, including meaningful sanctions.
“The new system must
also be properly funded and residents have to be able to raise concerns and
know they will be listened to.
“The repair bill to
improve the safety of existing buildings is likely to be significant and
leaseholders and council taxpayers will not be able to meet it. There is also a
significant shortage of the skills required to deliver effective fire safety
regulation and funding training will be an essential early step in these
reforms.
“The tragedy that
unfolded at Grenfell Tower must never be allowed to happen again and we must
ensure that those who live, work and visit high-rise and high-risk buildings
are safe. We look forward to continuing to work with the Government to deliver
the much-needed reform to ensure residents are safe and feel safe.”
RIBA President, Alan
Jones, said: “In this time of political uncertainty, meaningful action is
needed to make the UK open, global and fit for future generations. I hope
today’s proposals on immigration, infrastructure and the environment will have
an impact, but that will really depend on the detail.
"Newly
announced legislation for building standards is welcome but must contain robust
new requirements, including for sprinklers in new and converted homes and
better means of warning and escape.
"The recent
wave of fires, following on from the tragedy at Grenfell Tower over two years
ago, has exposed the frightening scale of the crisis – and the need for
architects to work on projects from design through to occupation. It is a
simple ask – buildings must be safe.”
