William Eichler 20 March 2025

Government ‘complacent’ over cladding capacity issue

Government ‘complacent’ over cladding capacity issue  image
Image: Iordanis / Shutterstock.com.

The Government ‘appears complacent’ about the fact that there is insufficient capacity and skills across local government to address the dangerous cladding crisis, MPs have warned.

In a report published today, the Public Accounts Commission (PAC) says the Government still does not know how many buildings have dangerous cladding eight years after the Grenfell fire.

It also revealed the Government did not know how much full remediation will cost or how long it will take.

Last December the Government set out its plan to complete remediation on all buildings over 18m, with a completion date for all buildings over 11m, by 2029.

In February, it also published its response to the Grenfell inquiry, promising a ‘sweeping transformation to enhance building and fire safety standards.’

However, campaigners told the PAC that the plan is ‘insufficiently ambitious’ and ‘at risk of not delivering what is promised.’

There are potentially 7,000 unsafe buildings that are yet to be identified, and Government has yet to find a way to secure financial contributions from manufacturers of dangerous cladding, according to the PAC report.

Commenting on the report, Cllr Adam Hug, Housing spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said the cladding crisis was a major issue that ‘requires significant funding and resource to address properly.’

‘The upcoming Spending Review is the moment to ensure that local government has sufficient resources to carry out this work and keep people safe,’ he added.

Read Mo Baines, chief executive of the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE), on the 'catastrophic system failure' that led to the Grenfell tragedy.

A Government spokesperson said: 'This government has been taking tough and decisive action after years of dither and delay, going further than ever before to speed up the unacceptably slow pace of remediation and provide an end in sight for residents who have suffered for too long.

'We continue to work closely with industry, local authorities, and residents to accelerate remediation efforts while ensuring those responsible for unsafe buildings cover the costs, with new penalties and criminal sanctions on building owners who refuse to take action.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Social Worker – Family Assessment & Support Team (FAST)

North Yorkshire Council
£38,220 - £42,839
Our Family Assessment and Support Teams work with children, young people and the families who are Children in Need and in need of Protection. Ripon, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Transformation Lead

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
£53076 - £54076 per annum
Bring your children's social care knowledge to lead digital transformation and help shape better systems, processes and services for practitioners, ch England, London, City of London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

Referral Taker

Gloucestershire County Council
£28,142 - £29,540 per annum
Are you an experienced Adult Social Care Administrator looking for an opportunity to develop your career? Gloucestershire
Recuriter: Gloucestershire County Council

Floor Layer

Durham County Council
£36,040 p.a. (Made up of £24,027 salary plus £12,013 p.a Interim Operational Allowance)
Durham County Council have an exciting opportunity for the role of a permanent Floor Layer working within Corporate Property and Land, Strategic Facil Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Headteacher

Durham County Council
£67,898 to £78,702
Permanent Contract - Full Time Required to start January 2027 N.O.R. 187 plus nursery (group 2).   The Governors seek to appoint a committed, experien Peterlee
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner