Government affirms commitment to “effective building safety regime”

The Labour MP for Chester North and Neston observed: “It’s hugely important to correct the mistakes of the past so that residents can move on with their lives. Further, I’m of the view that good regulation supports growth as well as safety.”

Dixon proceeded to announce the next stage in terms of development for the wider building safety system. In line with determined calls from industry, residents and campaigners alike, the Government is now enabling new applications to the Cladding Safety Scheme to be prioritised according to risk to life rather than solely by building height. “This will ensure,” said Dixon, “that those buildings assessed as presenting the highest risk to life are then prioritised for remediation.”

As part of this risk-based approach, the Government is also focusing on targeted action designed to address fire safety risks in buildings below 11 metres in height where serious and life-critical cladding defects fall outside the scope of statutory protections, often leaving leaseholders facing significant cladding remediation costs.

“We’ve investigated all buildings under 11 metres tall brought to our attention since 2022,” noted Dixon. “The clear majority have not required cladding remediation, with fire risks often addressed through proportionate and lower-cost mitigation measures. Only a limited number of buildings have been found to require cladding remediation.”

Prolonged uncertainty

Dixon continued: “We acknowledge that leaseholders in buildings under 11 metres have faced prolonged uncertainty. New and targeted funding will support the remediation of unsafe cladding on a small number of multi-occupancy residential buildings under 11 metres in England.”

In practice, this will be delivered through an extension of the Cladding Safety Scheme and administered by Homes England, duly delivering on the commitment set out in the Remediation Acceleration Plan Update that was issued in July last year.

Funding will prioritise high‑risk buildings with the most serious cladding fire safety defects. Following support for these cases, any remaining funding may be directed to other buildings where intervention would deliver the greatest benefit in terms of reducing risk and supporting residents. Dixon outlined that applications for funding are expected to open in August.

National Remediation Database

In the final part of the year, the National Remediation Database (delivered by Homes England) will provide a single view of remediation activity in relation to relevant buildings, improving information sharing and supporting oversight across partner organisations.

Importantly, the Government has just published the findings of the Remediation Programme Insurance Survey, which indicates that some leaseholders continue to face particularly high insurance costs despite progress in remediating building safety defects.

Dixon confirmed that the Financial Conduct Authority will work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and His Majesty’s Treasury to undertake a short and focused review of the multi-occupancy buildings insurance market. The review will explore how insurers’ pricing approaches for multiple occupancy buildings have changed since 2023, how firms are considering leaseholders’ interests when assessing whether their products deliver fair value and also how fire safety remediation work and other related factors are being taken into account in insurers’ risk assessments.

Further, the review process will work with the Association of British Insurers and the MHCLG to assess the effectiveness of the Fire Safety Reinsurance Facility in increasing market capacity and reducing premiums.

Single Construction Regulator

The Government has published its response to the Single Construction Regulator prospectus consultation. “The Government welcomes the broad support for the Single Construction Regulator from respondents,” said Dixon. “Our response to the consultation sets out the Government’s direction for the Single Construction Regulator, including our vision and ambition for the regulator, outcomes for the building system and the Single Construction Regulator’s primary objective.”

What’s more, the response confirms the Government’s intention to bring forward primary legislation as the next step towards establishing the Single Construction Regulator, using the Building Safety Regulator as its foundation.

According to Dixon: “Establishing the Single Construction Regulator will support a more effective, fair and coherent regulatory system that improves outcomes for residents and building users, while also providing greater clarity for industry.”

Dixon added: “The Government continues to drive reform across the wider building safety system. Our objective is to ensure that the system established after the Grenfell Tower fire is protecting residents, supporting responsible development and operating in a clear, proportionate and effective way.”

As the new framework has matured, Dixon said experience has shown where improvements can be made, while maintaining the protections residents rightly expect. “The reforms announced will improve how the regime operates in practice, while maintaining high standards of safety.”

Higher-risk buildings regime

Improving the proportionality of the higher-risk buildings regime is vital for the Government. Robust oversight of safety-critical work remains essential, but Dixon affirms in the statement that requirements must be targeted and efficient if they are to command confidence and support delivery.

“A proportionate regime is not a compromise on safety,” stated Dixon. “It’s essential to make sure regulatory effort and limited specialist resources are focused where they have the greatest positive impact on safety and efficiency.”

In relation to this, the Government has published the response to two consultations focused on re-categorising work in existing higher-risk buildings and on targeted dispensations from procedural requirements for telecommunications work in existing buildings. In parallel, the Government has launched a new consultation on the emergency repairs route.

Revised approach

As previously reported by Fire Safety Matters, the Building Safety Regulator is introducing a revised approach to building assessment certificates. “This will provide an effective, proportionate and risk-based approach to managing occupied higher-risk buildings, with greater support for ‘Principal Accountable Persons’, particularly resident-led organisations and those managing complex cases.”

The Building Safety Regulator will also develop updated processes, prioritisation and guidance to help protect residents and leaseholders from unnecessary additional costs.

“The core duties established by the Building Safety Act 2022 will not change,” explained Dixon. “It remains the case that ‘Accountable Persons’ must continue to manage their buildings effectively and take all reasonable steps to protect residents from fire spread and structural failure.”

Dixon concluded: “Taken together, this package of measures ensures the building safety framework remains focused on proportionate management of risk to be effective in operation and firmly centred on protecting residents.”