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Cladding replacement finished on 10 high rises
Remediation work to remove and replace dangerous aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding discovered since the Grenfell Tower fire has been completed on 10 social housing tower blocks.
Building Safety Programme figures released today by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) show cladding removal had started on 107 high rises owned by councils and housing associations at the latest count on 22 May.
That is 67% of the total number of social housing buildings taller than 18 metres which were found to have unsafe cladding last summer.
Since the previous data release in April, the number of social housing buildings deemed to have non-compliant ACM has risen by one to 159 – with the additional building owned by a housing association. MHCLG refused to disclose the name of this organisation.
Removal work had started on 104 social housing buildings by 23 April and remediation work had been completed on seven.
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A total of 311 buildings clad in ACM systems presenting a fire hazard have been counted since 14 June, with 138 of these privately owned residential buildings including hotels and student accommodation. The remaining 14 are publicly owned, including hospitals and schools.
According to the data release, figures for remediation work in the private sector “are being collected from local authorities, and will be published in due course”.
Earlier this month, prime minister Theresa May announced that the government will fully fund the removal of dangerous cladding for councils and housing associations.
It expects the work to cost £400m, which will come from the current round of the Affordable Homes Programme.
At the current rate of progress - with work finished on 10 buildings in 11 months - it will be some 14 years before remediation is completed on all 159 social housing high rises.
The MHCLG data release states: “Remediation work involves addressing any issues with the exterior cladding system and broader fire safety systems for each building.
“All of this work takes time and varies considerably depending on the building structure, extent of cladding and existing fire safety systems.
“For many buildings this is a complex job involving major construction work which needs to be planned, consulted on and carried out carefully.”
Lucy Grove, Grenfell programme lead at the National Housing Federation, said: “Housing associations are often experiencing lengthy waits to test the safety of materials, and in some instances building control are taking longer than usual to sign off plans.
“It is very welcome news that government is now fully funding the removal and replacement of this dangerous cladding, and to limit delays it should lead a national, co-ordinated response to ensure resources and capacity are directed strategically, with buildings most at risk prioritised.”
A spokesperson for MHCLG said: “Around 70% of social housing buildings with unsafe cladding have started remediation.
“This complex work will take time and must be done properly.
“Interim safety measures are already in place so that people can feel safe in their homes.”
The MHCLG will publish further cladding data in the week beginning 25 June.
Update: at 14.45pm 01/06/18 A comment from MHCLG was added to the story and the figure projecting the time taken to complete all remedial work was clarified.
