In 2019 the government pledged, via then Communities Secretary James Brokenshire, to have completed all cladding remediation work by June 2020, with building owners warned to ‘expect enforced action’ if they did not meet the deadline. However, The Independent has noted that with that deadline approaching, the government has ‘backed away’ from that pledge, with 307 high rise buildings still awaiting completion of cladding removal as of the end of April 2020.
Only 42 buildings have seen combustible aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding removed, with a government spokesperson not stating whether it would be able to ‘uphold the pledge’, only adding that ‘remediation work takes time and must be done safely and properly’. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) added that ‘building owners are responsible for making their buildings safe.
‘Remediation work takes time and must be done safely and properly. How long it takes varies according to the individual building, depending on the type and extent of the work required’. The news outlet also pointed out that when Mr Brokenshire made his statement last year, he said that remediation work ‘on all social housing towers would be complete by the end’ of 2019, with other towers completed by June 2020 except in ‘exceptional circumstances.
At the time he made his original statement, 327 high rise buildings had been found to have ACM cladding, with 102 of those social housing, 163 in the private sector, 26 student accommodation, 29 hotels and seven publicly owned.
Critics have accused the government of failing to take any meaningful action against wealthy building owners and said they hope ministers “feel deeply ashamed” as the third anniversary of the Grenfell Tower tragedy approaches. While the aforementioned 42 buildings saw work completed, more have been discovered since, with the total now 307 – only 20 below the figure when Mr Brokenshire made the pledge last summer.
Of the 307, 180 are private buildings ‘awaiting the completion of works’, with Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack commenting: ‘It’s sadly no surprise that the government is retreating from its own target for the removal of this deadly cladding. Residents being let down and ignored was a common theme before Grenfell, and little has changed since from a government that appears to think that targets are gimmicks for departmental press releases, rather than vital matters of safety.
‘Ministers trying to use the excuse that “remediation work takes time” is obscene given that we are almost three years on since the Grenfell tragedy. The truth is that there has barely been any progress because the government doesn’t consider the safety of residents a priority, and would rather kick the can down the road than take any meaningful action against wealthy building owners who refuse to make their buildings safe.
‘As we approach the third anniversary of Grenfell, we hope ministers feel deeply ashamed.’
A government spokesperson responded: ‘Residents’ safety remains our priority. This government is bringing forward the biggest change in building safety in a generation, backed by our unprecedented £1.6bn fund to ensure unsafe cladding, where it remains in place, is removed as soon as possible.
‘We have also issued guidance to ensure that this essential building safety work continues during the pandemic and have secured pledges from 26 local leaders and five metro mayors to ensure this vital remediation work continues, where it is safe to do so.’