Remediation Acceleration Plan - Guidance & Policy Papers

On 2nd December 2024,  the MHCLG announced a step-change in addressing the building safety crisis through the publication of its eagerly-awaited and ambitious Remediation Acceleration Plan. 

All residential buildings over 11m in England already have a pathway to fix unsafe cladding which also protects residents from these costs. But, seven years after the Grenfell tragedy, it is clear that action to fix unsafe buildings has been too slow.

The new two-part plan sets out howGovernment will fix buildings faster, identify remaining buildings still at risk and ensure that residents are supported through the remediation process. By the end of 2029, all 18m+ (high-rise) buildings with unsafe cladding in a government-funded scheme will have been remediated. Furthermore, by the end of 2029, every 11m+ building with unsafe cladding will either have been remediated, have a date for completion, or those responsible will be liable for severe penalties.

Key measures included in the plan are:

• action to identify buildings needing remediation through a review of 175,000 building records by the end of March 2025
• the intention to introduce new legal duties on those responsible to take action and make their buildings safe
• metro mayors convening regulators and preparing joined-up local plans to drive remediation in their areas
• additional funding and guidance for regulators to intensify enforcement activity
• new enforcement measures to hold those responsible to account
• a joint plan with developers, published today, to fix buildings faster covering over 95% of buildings to be remediated by developers
• action to begin accelerating remediation of social housing while working with the sector to announce a long-term strategy in Spring 2025
• supply chain support to facilitate delivery as remediation pace increases
• information on how we will hold those responsible for the building safety crisis to account
• the extension of the Waking Watch Replacement Fund until the end of March 2026, and,
• further measures to ensure that residents are supported and protected throughout the remediation process.

The government also confirmed the introduction of a Building Safety Levy on new residential developments which will raise around £3.4 billion for remediation, intended to come into force in autumn 2025.

Furthmore, Government have engaged with the building insurance industry on whether and how a possible government intervention could bring down the high bills some have experienced which can be over £3,000 per annum. A consultation on permitted insurance feees, introduced in the LAFRA 2024, starts today on how ensuring that leaseholders are only charged a fair and transparent insurance fee for work done in arranging insurance, rather than opaque commissions being charged to leaseholders. 

The Remediation Acceleration Plan marks a pivotal moment in addressing the building safety crisis in England and teh Gvernment has comitted to work tirelessly with resident groups and industry to insure a swift resolution.