Last week, in a written statement, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire, updated the government’s response to the Grenfell tragedy. Among the announcements were amendments to the approved documents confirming what materials can be used on cladding systems and additional guidance for local councils to use their housing powers to enforce remediation on private building owners who are not making progress on removing unsafe ACM cladding from their buildings.

LABC Chief Executive, Paul Everall, commented:

“We believe the Secretary of State’s decision to amend the approved documents to ban combustible cladding and to enforce cladding removal in private blocks will give reassurance to communities concerned about fire safety.

“Owners of private residential blocks needing remediation work now have the clarity they need on the use of non-combustible systems and products to get on with the job.  And our colleagues in local authority housing teams will have addition powers and resources to deal with those private building owners who aren’t moving fast enough on necessary remediation work.

“LABC will support all professionals and building owners to deliver fire safety strategies and safer buildings.   We look forward to further announcements implementing all 53 of the Hackitt Review’s recommendations to create the systemic change Dame Judith and the vast majority of the industry want to see.”