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Short on time? Tuesday’s housing news in five minutes

A round-up of the top stories this morning from Inside Housing and elsewhere

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Short on time? Tuesday’s housing news in five minutes #ukhousing

A round-up of the top stories this morning from @InsideHousing and elsewhere #ukhousing

Please note that for a range of factors, including survivors’ current inability to comment, Inside Housing has decided not to publish details of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report until 10am tomorrow, the embargo’s original deadline, or when the embargo is lifted.

Top story: Government working on ‘full and detailed examination’ of stay put strategy, says Jenrick

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Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has said government is reviewing the stay put policy given to residents of high-rise blocks during fires.

He told the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee last night that a “full and detailed examination” of the approach will form part of the government’s ongoing review of building regulations relating to fire safety.

However, Mr Jenrick said that “the consensus among experts is that the stay put system remains a valid one” for most high-rises.

It comes as the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s phase one report, to be published tomorrow, is tipped to focus heavily on the stay put advice given to residents on the night.

The housing secretary also suggested that the government’s response to the Social Housing Green Paper consultation, also launched following Grenfell, will surface before Christmas.

Dame Judith Hackitt named as government advisor for new building safety regulator

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Perhaps not surprisingly, the government’s work on fire safety is high on the news agenda this week.

Ministers have also revealed that Dame Judith Hackitt has been appointed as government advisor for decisions about the new building safety regulator.

Dame Judith carried out a review of fire and building safety regulations in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire.

She put forward the idea of a new regulatory body for building safety in her report in May last year, with government confirming its plans to introduce a new regulator and implement all 53 of her recommendations in the Queen’s Speech this month.

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick described the measures, which will mean building owners that fail to meet standards risk criminal sanctions, as the “biggest reforms to the building safety regime for 40 years”.

Lunchtime long read 29/10/19

Lunchtime long read 29/10/19

Ahead of Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s long-awaited Grenfell report tomorrow, we’ve published an in-depth guide on what to look out for.

The preparedness of the fire brigade on the night, the stay put advice given to residents, the input of the council and its management company, and the performance of the tower’s cladding could all feature heavily.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Quote of the morning 29/10/19

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry has expressed its disappointment at details of its first phase report being published by several media outlets this morning, ahead of tomorrow’s embargo. Inside Housing’s statement on this topic can be found here.

In the papers 29/10/19

In the papers 29/10/19

Picture: Getty

As mentioned above, several news outlets have covered leaked copies of the Grenfell Inquiry report today.

Elsewhere, the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme has spoken to residents of a Barnet Council block who have decided to organise over the poor conditions in their building.

ALMO Barnet Homes said it is “extremely sorry” for standard of some of the homes and is committed to dealing with residents’ concerns.

Meanwhile, The Guardian runs a feature on the innovative methods councils are using to deliver new homes.

Local news 29/10/19

Local news 29/10/19

Picture: Getty

The Northamptonshire Telegraph reports that Corby Council is buying up an undisclosed number of homes to add to its housing stock.

Developers of a housing estate in Blackburn have been fined for failing to meet planning conditions on site drainage, per the Lancashire Telegraph.

And in Scotland, housing association tenants could be offered cash incentives to downsize to free up homes for homeless families, according to the Evening Times.

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