Grenfell and the tower block problem

Grenfell and the tower block problem

Last week's report into the Grenfell Tower disaster once again put the safety of tower blocks in the spotlight. There's no doubt the report is a huge and detailed piece of work. There is a lot to consider and the Prime Minister has said the Government will need up to six months to respond fully to the report.

Changes have already been made under the Building Safety Act 2022 which was brought into force last Autumn. Further structural, legislative and regulatory changes are to be expected in the light of the Grenfell Report.

There is no doubt that inquiries in the UK take far too long. Inquiries and the inquiry culture needs urgently to be addressed and reformed.

Immediately following the Grenfell tragedy, seven years ago the Housing & Finance Institute set out proposals to Repair, Protect and Rebuild high rise blocks. The proposals included a call for a moratorium on the building of new high rise tower blocks until safety was assured. However, seven years on from Grenfell not only are dangerous tower blocks still not fixed, but there is too little clarity on what makes a tower block safe when it comes to new buildings too.

Above all, the prospect of further changes arising from the inquiry report must not be allowed to delay putting right defective tower blocks. The Government's latest building safety remediation figures show there are 4,630 tower blocks of 11 metres and above that have unsafe cladding. Remediation has been completed at just 1,350 (29%) of these tower blocks. Works have yet even to begin at 2,331 (50%) of unsafe tower blocks.

That less than a third of dangerous tower blocks have been put right when the disaster took place seven years ago is a dismal record. That works have not even started for half of them is a disgrace. It is welcome that the Housing Secretary has said that action must be taken to speed up remediation. Putting all tower blocks right in the next 12 months should be a key Government priority.

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