58% of unsafe buildings yet to start remediation works, government data shows

Data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ (DLUHC) monthly remediation report, shows that 58% of buildings identified with unsafe cladding are yet to start remediation works. 

Published on 18 January 2024, the release highlighted that in December 2023, a total of 3,839 buildings had been identified with unsafe cladding, and of those, 1608 have started or finished remediation works.

The DLUHC said: “Overall, 1,608 buildings (42%) have either started or completed remediation works. Of these, 797 buildings (21%) have completed remediation works.

“This includes remediation progress on high rise (18m+) buildings in height, as well as further identified mid-rise (11-18m) in height.”

The report also stated that buildings reported to have started or completed works has doubled since December 2022.

Earlier this week, two landlords in Bristol were ordered to replace cladding deemed a fire safety risk at a five storey block of flats, after leaseholders filed remediation applications under the Building Safety Act.

Further reading: Building Safety Regulator sets out three-year plan to create competent built environment and restore trust in sector

£2.7 billion estimated cost for developer remediation 

For developer remediation, said to be for buildings defined as those with ‘life-critical fire safety risks’, the government stated: “35% of buildings in the developer remediation contract have either started or completed remediation works on life-critical fire safety risks, with 19% having completed remediation works.”

It also added that 1,345 buildings identified as requiring remediation have an estimated cost of around £2.7 billion, which averages at around £2 million in cost per building.

The data showed that the housing developers with the most buildings to fix were Barratt, Bellway, Taylor Wimpey, Vistry and Crest Nicholson.

The release includes data on buildings in the Building Safety Fund, Cladding Safety Scheme, developer remediation contract, those reported by registered providers of social housing, and high-rise buildings with ACM cladding systems.

To read the monthly data release in full, click here>>

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