UK Government Commits to Fix Cladding in HRBs by 2029

The UK Government has said it will fix dangerous cladding in all high-rise buildings included in publicly-funded schemes by 2029. This target has been set as part of a new Remediation Acceleration Plan.

“Buildings taller than 11m but below the 18m high-rise threshold will be expected to have a target date for completion by the end of 2029, or the landlords will be held liable for penalties….developers will also be required to double the rate at which they fix the buildings they are responsible for under a new joint action plan. At least 29 developers have committed to this goal, which would mean work on all their buildings would have started by summer 2027.”

Government Commitments:

• Dangerous cladding on all high-rise buildings in publicly funded schemes to be fixed by 2029.
• Buildings 11-18 meters tall to have completion target dates by 2029, with penalties for landlords who miss these targets.
• £5.1 billion allocated for unsafe cladding removal, with £2.3 billion spent as of August 2023. An additional £1billion committed for 2025/26.

Remediation Acceleration Plan:

• New enforcement investments for local councils, fire and rescue authorities, and the Building Safety Regulator.
• Developers required to double the remediation speed under a joint action plan.
• Commitment by at least 29 developers covering over 95% of privately remediated buildings, with work to commence on all their buildings by summer 2027.

Challenges and Concerns:

• Residents face prolonged uncertainty, with many still living in unsafe buildings.
• Calls for increased government intervention to provide skills and funding for faster remediation.

Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, has since stated that she expects remediation works on site to begin as soon as possible in 2025. She also acknowledged approval from the Building Safety Regulator is taking longer than anticipated, and the Government are working with The Regulator to resolve this. To ensure homes are made safe as quickly as possible, Rayner has said her “department will take all necessary action to ensure (the building is) that buildings are remediated at pace”, and if the expectation is not met, direct legal action will occur.

For guidance and support relating to Fire Engineering, Structural Engineering, and Building Safety matters, please contact a member of our team.

Government commits to fixing cladding on high-rises by end of 2029
Building Remediation letter from Angela Rayner