This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jun/28/private-high-rise-towers-flammable-cladding-grenfell

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
More private high-rises with flammable cladding than expected Grenfell Tower-style cladding identified in 470 high-rise blocks
(about 14 hours later)
The number of people living in privately owned high-rise flats with combustible cladding similar to that used on Grenfell Tower is much higher than previously believed, the Guardian understands. The number of high-rise apartment blocks wrapped in combustible Grenfell Tower-style cladding has soared to 470 after councils identified an extra 156 towers in the private sector using materials similar those that spread the fire which claimed 72 lives.
Ministers are planning to launch a taskforce to help councils identify the type of cladding in use on private tower blocks higher than 18 metres (60ft) amid growing concern that, more than a year since the Grenfell Tower disaster, officials still do not know. The government made the admission on Thursday and revealed that the number was expected to rise further because the cladding status of another 170 private sector residential buildings is still to be confirmed.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) ordered councils to identify all private high-rise residential buildings with aluminium composite cladding by the end of May and the results are set to be announced. It said that only 19 buildings higher than 18 metres (60ft) – including affordable and private blocks – have so far had their dangerous cladding replaced, leaving tens of thousands of people living in homes wrapped in flammable materials.
Sources familiar with the work said it is expected to show a significant increase on the current number of 138. Ministers have voiced frustration that private landlords have not come forward in sufficient numbers to declare whether their buildings are clad in combustible materials that have failed fire tests. More than a year since the disaster, only four of the 297 private buildings have been fully repaired and only 17 others have repairs under way. Fears over the cladding causing a second blaze rose on Thursday morning in Manchester when there was a fire in a block next door to one wrapped in combustible materials.
A leading member of the survivors group Grenfell United, Ed Daffarn, warned that “Grenfell two is in the post” unless urgent action is taken to remove combustible cladding across the country. Katie Kelly, a resident of Vallea Court, wrote an open letter to the freehold owner saying: “We are pleading with you to speed this up and commit to removing the cladding... We fear that our lives are in genuine danger... people could very likely lose their lives over this.”
Some 159 council and social housing blocks have already been identified as containing combustible cladding. The government has pledged to take £400m from the current affordable housing budget to help fund repairs. A leading member of the survivors’ group Grenfell United, Ed Daffarn, warned that “Grenfell two is in the post” unless urgent action is taken to remove combustible cladding
Already, 159 council and social housing blocks had been identified as containing combustible cladding. The government has pledged to take £400m from the current affordable housing budget to help fund repairs.
Progress on private buildings is proving slower because some freeholders are arguing that leaseholders should foot the bill. Ministers have insisted freeholders should pay, but have no enforcement powers.Progress on private buildings is proving slower because some freeholders are arguing that leaseholders should foot the bill. Ministers have insisted freeholders should pay, but have no enforcement powers.
Discussions are under way to create a multi-disciplinary team made up of experts from building control, the fire brigade and environmental health to support local authorities working with private high-rise residential building owners to resolve the problem. Announcing the figures, the housing secretary, James Brokenshire, said: “Fire and rescue services are working with building owners to ensure residents are safe now. But I want to see swifter progress in removing unsafe cladding.
A spokesman for MHCLG declined to comment on the plans for the taskforce. “I have been clear that leaseholders should be protected from unfair costs and we expect the industry to do the right thing. If they don’t, I will continue to explore other routes and I am not ruling anything out.”
Labour said the cladding issue underlined how “ministers have been off the pace at every stage in response” to the fire, which killed 72 people. Labour attacked the government’s handling of the crisis. John Healey, the shadow housing secretary, said: “The same pattern of institutional inaction and negligence that led to the Grenfell Tower fire has typified the government’s response since.
“Over a year on, it’s shameful that the government still doesn’t know how many tower blocks are covered in Grenfell-style cladding,” said John Healey, the shadow housing secretary. “Ministers must now publish in full the location, ownership and testing status of all high-rise blocks, and set a deadline for all blocks to be identified and made safe.” “Ministers have been off the pace at every stage and they’re still not doing enough to ensure people are safe. Ministers must now set a deadline to make all blocks safe and take all steps necessary to see the work is done.”
Ministers are planning to launch a taskforce to help councils identify the type of cladding in use on private tower blocks higher than 18 metres amid growing concern thatofficials still do not know, more than a year since the Grenfell Tower disaster.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government ordered councils to identify all private high-rise residential buildings with aluminium composite cladding by the end of May. That has led to the identification of the extra 156 private sector blocks over 18 metres high.
Ministers have voiced frustration that private landlords have not come forward in sufficient numbers to declare whether their buildings are clad in combustible materials that have failed fire tests.
Grenfell Tower fireGrenfell Tower fire
Planning policyPlanning policy
Local governmentLocal government
HousingHousing
CommunitiesCommunities
London
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content