Responding to the Government’s building safety announcement, Lord Porter, the Local Government Association’s building safety spokesman, said:
“Residents have a right to be safe and feel safe in their own homes. This is even more important during the current coronavirus pandemic, as so many people are confined to their homes.
“The Government’s announcement that the remediation of cladding remains a top priority is positive news, and industry and duty-holders now need to step up and deliver the work required. Leaseholders, who are facing a triple whammy of mortgage refusals, spiralling insurance costs and fees for emergency safety measures, cannot continue to be subjected to months of further delays, as long as it is possible for cladding replacement work to proceed in line with safety advice.
“The LGA has long called for the requirement for sprinklers in new blocks to be lowered, and the decision to reduce that for new blocks from 30 metres tall to 11 metres tall is incredibly important to the health and safety of residents. Residents of existing blocks deserve the same safety standards as those in new buildings, and the Government should fund the retrofitting of sprinklers in existing blocks of flats, once the current crisis is over.
“We also remain concerned that the scope of the new building safety regime overlooks buildings we believe have been built just below a height of 18 metres specifically to game the system and dodge safety standards.
“We will continue to work with the Government at pace to make the case for further reform to ensure residents are safe.”