Government to fund removal of Grenfell-style cladding from private high-rises
Unsafe Grenfell Tower-style cladding on private residential high-rise blocks will be replaced at the cost of around £200 million funded by the Government, the Ministry of Housing has announced.
The money will be made available to remove aluminium composite material cladding from around 170 privately owned high-rise buildings across the UK.
It comes after almost two years of inaction from some building owners, some of whom tried to make leaseholders foot the bill.
Communities Secretary @jbrokenshire calls time on ‘reckless’ building owners as government steps in to fund and speed up vital #cladding replacement https://t.co/LmOEVLEdPX
— Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Govt (@mhclg) May 9, 2019
Campaigners welcomed the news, with Grenfell United, a group of survivors and the bereaved, saying it offered hope to people feeling at risk at home.
Building owners will have three months to claim the funds, with one condition being that they take “reasonable steps” to recover the costs from those responsible for the cladding’s presence.
Prime Minister Theresa May said: “It is of paramount importance that everybody is able to feel and be safe in their homes.
“That’s why we asked building owners in the private sector to take action and make sure appropriate safety measures were in place.
“And we’ve seen a number of private building owners doing the right thing and taking responsibility, but unfortunately too many are continuing to pass on the costs of removal and replacement to leaseholders.
“Today I can confirm we will now be fully funding the replacement of cladding on high-rise private residential buildings so residents can feel confident they are secure in their homes.”
'If these reckless building owners won’t act, the government will’, says Communities Secretary @JBrokenshire#claddingpic.twitter.com/ray3Xl2Ido
— Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Govt (@mhclg) May 9, 2019
Grenfell United said: “Today’s announcement offers hope to people in dangerous blocks that the nightmare they have been living for nearly two years is almost over.
“This result is a testament to residents themselves, in social and private blocks, who refused to be ignored. The truth is we should never have had to fight for it.
“It is not a quick fix so we ask the Government to also consider what financial support can be put in place while residents continue with night watches and wait for remediation works to start.”
