London buildings wrapped in Grenfell-style cladding
London buildings cladding similar to Grenfell disaster.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : The UK Government is facing mounting pressure to take stronger action in addressing the ongoing issue of dangerous cladding, particularly in the aftermath of the tragic Grenfell Tower fire that occurred seven years ago. Tom Copley, the Deputy Mayor for housing in London, has highlighted the severe impact on leaseholders who are unable to sell their homes due to the presence of hazardous cladding, leading to significant mental health challenges.
Campaigners have criticized the Government for downplaying the extent of the problem and delaying effective solutions. The Government has stated that it is prioritizing the remediation of high-risk buildings and is taking enforcement action against those failing to address the issue. The cladding material involved in the Grenfell Tower fire, known as aluminium composite material (ACM), has been identified as a major concern.
In London alone, 278 out of 498 high-rise residential or publicly-owned buildings have been found to have ACM cladding, with 236 of these buildings already remediated. However, there are still 42 buildings where remediation work is incomplete or has not even started, including private residential blocks, social housing blocks, hotels, and student accommodation.
Beyond ACM cladding, the Government has identified a total of 4,336 buildings taller than 11 meters with unsafe cladding across England, of which only 991 have been fully remediated. Deputy Mayor Copley has criticized the slow progress in addressing the issue, pointing out the delays in setting up remediation funds and the lack of protection for leaseholders living in buildings under 11 meters.
Despite the Building Safety Act introduced in 2022 to protect leaseholders from bearing unfair costs, campaigners like Giles Grover from the End Our Cladding Scandal group are concerned about the slow pace of progress. The impact of the pandemic lockdowns has exacerbated the mental health challenges faced by affected leaseholders, further underscoring the urgent need for action.
Housing Secretary Michael Gove has assured that the Government is committed to addressing the issue and protecting leaseholders from financial burdens. However, concerns remain about the complexity of the situation and the exclusion of many individuals from the protections offered by the new legislation.
While the Government claims to be making progress in remediation efforts, campaigners stress the need for more comprehensive and swift action to ensure justice for all affected leaseholders. The ongoing crisis surrounding dangerous cladding demands urgent attention and a concerted effort to prioritize the safety and well-being of residents across the country..
– London buildings wrapped in Grenfell-style cladding
– Buildings in London still wrapped in Grenfell-style cladding.
