Set clear target date for removing dangerous cladding from buildings, NAO tells Government

The report from the UK’s independent spending watchdog, which was published on 1 November, said that while remediation works on most tower blocks measuring more than 18 metres in height with the most dangerous form of cladding have now been completed or are nearing completion, when it comes to the 9,000-12,000 buildings over 11 metres in height that are thought to be in need of remediation, just 4,771 have been identified and included in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG’s) portfolio. This means that up to 60 per cent of affected buildings have not yet been identified.

  Up to 60 per cent of buildings with unsafe cladding have yet to be identified. Photograph: iStock/Asergieiev

One-third of the identified buildings in this category have been made safe, but remediation work on half of the identified buildings has yet to begin.

“Of all the buildings that may be in scope, work has been completed on only 12-16 per cent,” said the NAO in its report, adding that the pace of remediation work is “behind where MHCLG expected it to be”.

The total estimated cost of remediation works is about £16.6 billion, and the NAO report said that there are risks to keeping taxpayer contributions capped at £5.1 billion. It also found that more than £500,000 was potentially lost through a payment to one fraudulent applicant for remediation funding in 2023/24. To stick to the cap, the MHCLG must ensure that it can recoup funds by successfully implementing the proposed Building Safety Levy, the NAO added.

“Putting the onus on developers to pay and introducing a more proportionate approach to remediation should help to protect taxpayers’ money,” said the report.

The NAO has recommended that the Government publish a target date for the completion of dangerous cladding remediation works. It has also called for greater transparency so that the hundreds of thousands of affected residents have a clearer idea of when their buildings will be made safe.

“Seven years on from the Grenfell Tower fire, there has been progress, but considerable uncertainty remains regarding the number of buildings needing remediation, costs, timelines and recouping public spending,” said Gareth Davies, head of the NAO. “There is a long way to go before all affected buildings are made safe, and risks MHCLG must address if its approach is to succeed.”

The End Our Cladding Scandal campaign group said that the NAO’s report “spells out the reality of the cladding scandal”. It has called on the new Labour Government to take a more joined-up approach to address the issue.

“The previous government failed to deliver a comprehensive solution – leaving an approach that is too complicated with several funding schemes, layers of unequal leaseholder protections, complex building ownership structures, self-interested stakeholders arguing over liability, and ongoing disputes over vital safety work,” said the campaign group.

“There must be a gross-government solution – between MHCLG, the Home Office and the Treasury – and a joined-up approach with the Building Safety Regulator, local fire services and regulators, and Homes England.”

In its Autumn Budget on 30 October, the Government said it would invest £1 billion to accelerate the removal of dangerous cladding from buildings next year. It also committed to build 1.5 million new homes.