MPs Critique Government's Cladding Removal Plans as Insufficiently Ambitious

The Public Accounts Committee has raised serious concerns regarding the UK government’s approach to addressing the building safety crisis caused by dangerous cladding. Despite thousands of buildings having been remedied since the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017, the report indicates that the government is still unaware of how many buildings require remediation, the estimated costs, or the timeline for these repairs. It suggests that the government’s target to resolve these issues by 2029 is overly optimistic. Although £5.1 billion has been allocated for cladding removal, costs could rise to £22.4 billion, potentially jeopardizing the ambitious goal to construct 1.5 million new homes.

Many buildings remain untouched, with remediation efforts not even starting on a significant number of high-rise buildings needing attention. The committee addressed the emotional and financial distress faced by leaseholders who are unable to sell their properties due to the outstanding remediation costs. The recently passed Building Safety Act aims to shift the financial burden from leaseholders to developers, but uncertainty remains about the swift implementation of necessary laws and the potential long-term impact on home construction.

Calls have been made for manufacturers of the materials involved in the disaster, like Arconic, to contribute to the financial efforts through a levy. The report emphasizes the need for significant improvements and decisive action to ensure the safety of buildings and protect the public, with the committee demanding timely updates from the government on progress.