London Councils welcomes “much-needed” government deal in £4bn cladding crisis

London Councils has welcomed the government’s proposed new deal with the residential property developer industry to help fix the cladding crisis.

The government is asking the industry to make financial contributions to a fund covering the full outstanding costs of remediating unsafe cladding on buildings between 11 and 18 metres high, which is estimated to be £4bn.

Developers will also be expected to undertake all necessary remediation of buildings over 11 metres that they initially worked on.

Boroughs have repeatedly expressed concern at the slow progress in removing dangerous cladding from many buildings across the capital and have long pushed for clearer direction from the government on how the full costs of remediation work should be funded.

Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ executive member for housing & planning, said: “We’re pleased to see the government taking these steps to fix the cladding crisis, which has dragged on for far too long.

“This year will mark the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire and no one should still be living in a building with dangerous cladding. Every Londoner must be safe, and feel safe, in their home, yet many are living in a nightmarish limbo while arguments rage over how remediation works will be paid for.

“Ministers now need to keep up the momentum and make sure the industry delivers on these fair and much-needed commitments for improving building safety, as well as working with councils on delivering stronger local powers for enforcing fire safety measures.”

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