Building Safety

The Government have already taken steps to address fire safety risks, but problems have developed over many decades and will take years to put right. We will establish the new building safety regulator within weeks with Dame Judith Hackitt chairing a board to oversee the transition. The height threshold for sprinkler requirements in new buildings is being lowered from 18 metres to 11 metres. The ban on combustible materials has been reviewed and we are consulting on lowering the height threshold to at most 11 metres. Updated advice notes have been published, bringing together 22 separate advice notes into one consolidated document. A call for evidence will be published seeking views on the assessment of risks associated with external wall systems within existing buildings.

The Secretary of State acknowledges the challenges but outlines significant steps taken, including the independent inquiry, Dame Judith Hackitt's review, and launching a remediation fund. He commits to naming and shaming building owners who fail to act promptly and sets deadlines for the fire safety Bill and the larger Building Safety Bill.

Bottomley commends the Government's work with Dame Judith Hackitt and emphasises the importance of addressing leaseholder issues through closer collaboration with organisations like the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership. He also suggests considering the use of sprinklers in buildings to prevent fatalities during fires.

Welcomes the Minister's recommendations but questions why there is still a consultation phase on reducing building height limits in Scotland. Asks about funding for the Health and Safety Executive, learns from the Scottish Housing Regulator, complaints to the shadow regulator, reporting of significant performance failures, mortgage lending issue with advice note 14, incentives for remediation such as VAT reductions.

Commits to working closely with Scottish Government and colleagues on building safety issues. Discusses the consolidation of advice notes, progress in resolving mortgage market issues, funding for the Health and Safety Executive regulator, and considering a more sophisticated risk matrix instead of height alone.

Welcomes the consultation on whether height alone should be the determining factor in building safety regulations. Asks if vulnerable residents will be considered in the risk assessment matrix.

Raises concerns about retrofitting sprinklers in social housing blocks due to lack of clarity on rights of access and legal issues. Requests clear policy guidelines from the Secretary of State.

Welcomes the announcement of a new regulator and asks for an update on discussions with local authority leaders regarding the identification of buildings at risk and how this might help the new regulator.

Asks if the Secretary of State will apologise to residents living with unsafe cladding, particularly in social housing blocks where work has been delayed. Raises concerns about Wandsworth Council’s approach to remediation.

Welcomes the statement on building safety and asks if the Secretary of State will consider extending the remediation fund to cover other types of combustible cladding beyond ACM.

Asks the Secretary of State to review Birmingham City Council's request for financial support to make safe 213 tower blocks in Birmingham, which includes 10,000 households.

Expressed concern about the need for enforcement action if progress is too slow and emphasised that building owners should be held criminally liable.

Acknowledged concerns, affirmed that local authorities have powers to enforce safety measures and stated intentions to legislate for a new building safety regime with criminal offences. He also mentioned the possibility of working with Treasury on financial solutions.

Called for interest-free loans as an option to help leaseholders trapped in unsafe conditions, questioned the speed at which these options can be implemented.

Asked the Secretary of State to endorse the work of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) in driving up construction standards and ensuring safer buildings in the future.

Questioned whether an engineer with past connections to a company involved in Grenfell cladding could be impartial on the investigation panel.

Asked about the extent of buildings that will come under new safety scope and raised concerns over whether current tests are fit for purpose.

Emphasised the financial burden on leaseholders due to waking watch costs and urged the Secretary of State to provide a timeframe for working with Treasury on solutions.

Asked about how building safety regulations will apply to permitted development rights buildings in his constituency and expressed concerns over quality housing issues.

Suggested legislating for minimum levels of latent structural defect insurance coverage and third-party rights for leaseholders to claim under these policies.

Welcomed the steps outlined in the statement and expressed desire that all properties will be made safe as quickly as possible, with proper reforms for building safety systems.

Asked for reassurance that budget for the new regulator would be ring-fenced and not disappear within Health and Safety Executive.

Highlighted a case of student housing block evacuation due to multiple fire regulation failures by a Government-approved private building inspection company without site inspection, calling for review of the entire process of building control.

Asked if people will be able to make complaints to the shadow regulator, when Kevin Stewart would meet for discussions, and about the funding allocated to the Health and Safety Executive.

Stated willingness to engage with Scottish Government colleagues, confirmed that funding will be provided to the Health and Safety Executive as required, mentioned ongoing consultations for building height regulations, detailed significant reforms including a new regulator for building safety.

Asked why the Government would not legislate for fitting sprinklers in all new builds and retrospectively after a fire incident in 2007 led to four firefighter fatalities.

Expressed concerns over remaining unsafe blocks in Manchester, highlighted financial burdens on leaseholders for remediation costs, and questioned the effectiveness of current measures in ensuring immediate safety.

Inquired about formal endorsement of the new EWS1 process, requested evidence regarding its success in resolving leaseholder issues, and sought further clarification on the consolidated advice note's impact.