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The UK government has announced a new legislative crackdown aimed at accelerating the removal of unsafe cladding from thousands of buildings across England.
Under the Remediation Acceleration Plan, landlords of buildings over 18 metres must complete cladding removal by the end of 2029, with those managing buildings between 11 and 18 metres required to finish by 2031.
Failure to comply could result in unlimited fines or imprisonment.
This announcement comes alongside a commitment of more than £1 billion in government funding, aimed at supporting social landlords and private building owners alike.
New powers will also allow government bodies such as Homes England and local authorities to step in and remediate buildings if landlords fail to act.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner described the plan as “a clear message” to those responsible for unsafe buildings: “Act now or face the consequences.”
The legislation is intended to restore confidence in building safety and prevent future tragedies like the Grenfell Tower fire of 2017.
A long-awaited step – but is it enough?
While the announcement marks progress, many affected groups remain deeply concerned that the wait has already taken a heavy toll on residents.
Campaign groups such as End Our Cladding Scandal have welcomed the funding but criticized the plan’s extended deadlines and what they see as bureaucratic delays.
“Residents have already waited far too long to live safely in their homes,” said a spokesperson.
“The government’s timelines still leave thousands exposed to dangerous conditions for years to come.”
The emotional and financial impact on residents has been devastating.
A survey from the UK Cladding Action Group found that 90 per cent of affected leaseholders have experienced worsening mental health due to the ongoing crisis, with nearly a quarter reporting suicidal thoughts or self-harm.
The protracted delays and uncertainty have caused prolonged anxiety, financial strain, and displacement for many families.
Scepticism from oversight bodies
Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee has also expressed scepticism about the government’s approach, noting that eight years after Grenfell, it remains unclear exactly how many buildings require remediation, what the final costs will be, or how long the process will take.
The committee has called for clearer accountability and faster action.
Mixed responses from housing providers
Social landlords and housing associations have responded differently to the government’s plans.
Some are moving ahead with remediation using internal resources, unwilling to wait for further government guidance.
Others have opted for caution, awaiting detailed government tests before starting work.
Local authorities will benefit from funding and new regulatory powers, aiming to tailor remediation efforts locally and provide more support for affected tenants.
Looking ahead
The government’s announcement also includes measures to protect leaseholders from costly interim safety measures and a new Building Safety Levy expected to raise £3.4 billion over the next decade to help fund remediation.
Despite these efforts, for many residents the question remains: why has it taken this long, and why must they continue to wait in unsafe buildings while officials negotiate funding and deadlines?
As one resident put it, “We don’t just need promises — we need action now.
Every day we wait is another day living in fear.”
Share this post:
Deadline set for unsafe cladding removal from buildings – but time is running out
Share this post:
The UK government has announced a new legislative crackdown aimed at accelerating the removal of unsafe cladding from thousands of buildings across England.
Under the Remediation Acceleration Plan, landlords of buildings over 18 metres must complete cladding removal by the end of 2029, with those managing buildings between 11 and 18 metres required to finish by 2031.
Failure to comply could result in unlimited fines or imprisonment.
This announcement comes alongside a commitment of more than £1 billion in government funding, aimed at supporting social landlords and private building owners alike.
New powers will also allow government bodies such as Homes England and local authorities to step in and remediate buildings if landlords fail to act.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner described the plan as “a clear message” to those responsible for unsafe buildings: “Act now or face the consequences.”
The legislation is intended to restore confidence in building safety and prevent future tragedies like the Grenfell Tower fire of 2017.
A long-awaited step – but is it enough?
While the announcement marks progress, many affected groups remain deeply concerned that the wait has already taken a heavy toll on residents.
Campaign groups such as End Our Cladding Scandal have welcomed the funding but criticized the plan’s extended deadlines and what they see as bureaucratic delays.
“Residents have already waited far too long to live safely in their homes,” said a spokesperson.
“The government’s timelines still leave thousands exposed to dangerous conditions for years to come.”
The emotional and financial impact on residents has been devastating.
A survey from the UK Cladding Action Group found that 90 per cent of affected leaseholders have experienced worsening mental health due to the ongoing crisis, with nearly a quarter reporting suicidal thoughts or self-harm.
The protracted delays and uncertainty have caused prolonged anxiety, financial strain, and displacement for many families.
Scepticism from oversight bodies
Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee has also expressed scepticism about the government’s approach, noting that eight years after Grenfell, it remains unclear exactly how many buildings require remediation, what the final costs will be, or how long the process will take.
The committee has called for clearer accountability and faster action.
Mixed responses from housing providers
Social landlords and housing associations have responded differently to the government’s plans.
Some are moving ahead with remediation using internal resources, unwilling to wait for further government guidance.
Others have opted for caution, awaiting detailed government tests before starting work.
Local authorities will benefit from funding and new regulatory powers, aiming to tailor remediation efforts locally and provide more support for affected tenants.
Looking ahead
The government’s announcement also includes measures to protect leaseholders from costly interim safety measures and a new Building Safety Levy expected to raise £3.4 billion over the next decade to help fund remediation.
Despite these efforts, for many residents the question remains: why has it taken this long, and why must they continue to wait in unsafe buildings while officials negotiate funding and deadlines?
As one resident put it, “We don’t just need promises — we need action now.
Every day we wait is another day living in fear.”
Share this post:
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