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Response to Government building safety announcement

10th January 2022
White Blue Logo saying Building Safety Update on it

Today Michael Gove confirmed that developers will be expected to contribute towards fire remediation costs in buildings between 11-18 metres. In his speech today he announced several new proposals aimed at helping leaseholders and trying to minimise the impact of the building safety crisis. These include scrapping the Consolidated Advice Note, accelerating funds out of the Building Safety Fund to the most high-risk buildings, and providing additional help for leaseholders with waking watch fees. Over the coming weeks, the government will host a series of roundtables with ministers, developers and leaseholders that will look to agree a settlement with the aim of having a clear, fully funded plan of action by March.

Sasha Deepwell, Chief Executive of Irwell Valley Homes said: “We welcome today’s announcement and fully support any additional help to make homes safe and mitigate the financial burden on leaseholders and not for profit housing associations like Irwell Valley Homes. We know this is a really difficult situation for leaseholders. Their safety remains our number one priority. We have already completed works in all our buildings over 18 metres and have installed interim fire safety measures where necessary in lower buildings. We eagerly await further details from the government that will help us to find a way forward for our buildings between 11-18 metres."

Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, said: “We welcome this important move from the government to find a solution to the cost of dangerous cladding on buildings above 11m, and we agree that those responsible - developers, contractors and manufacturers - should make a major contribution to funding the remediation needed. Innocent leaseholders should not have to pay for building safety issues created by the big building firms. In the absence of funding, charitable housing associations have been left to pick up the bill. These not-for-profit organisations already estimate they will spend £10bn - over double the sum being talked about today - on remediating homes where social renters live, impacting their ability to build more social housing and improve existing properties.

She continued to say: “As ever when it comes to this crisis, speed, clarity and certainty are of the essence. We need urgent and decisive action to end the misery leaseholders are experiencing and ensure people are safe in their homes. We look forward to seeing more detail from the government and will continue to work with ministers to put an end to the cladding scandal”

This is a positive step forward and we await further details to understand how this may be applied to our buildings affected. We will continue to work with leaseholders to find a way forward and will arrange meetings with residents and stakeholders once we know more and have any further updates.  

If you have any questions in relation to this, please email communications@irwellvalley.co.uk