No timeframe from government on ACM cladding removal

The government has declined to put a timeframe on when work to remove cladding featuring aluminium composite material from tower blocks and public buildings across the UK following the Grenfell fire two years ago will be completed.

Responding to a question from Labour MP Grahame Morris, housing minister Kit Malthouse said the government did not hold “comprehensive data on planned completion dates” for the remediation of aluminium composite material (ACM) buildings.

Malthouse said the government had provided £600m-worth of funding to remove unsafe ACM cladding from high-rise residential buildings in the social and private sectors, which he said would “remove the biggest blocker to progress on remediation in these buildings.

“However, it is important to recognise remediation work cannot be done overnight, and it must be done properly. The time to complete work varies considerably depending on the factors such as structure, extent of cladding, and existing fire safety systems.

“For many buildings this is a complex job involving major construction work. We want buildings to be remediated as quickly as possible and we will be closely monitoring the work as it progresses.”

Last month the government announced it would be spending £200m to fund the removal of ACM cladding on private sector residential tower blocks.

Ministers remain under pressure to get a grip on the removal programme in the wake of the Grenfell fire two years ago, after it emerged that nearly 200 high-rise towers in the private sector still had dangerous material present, versus only 23 in the public sector.

Shadow communities secretary John Healey also asked the government when those living in these private sector buildings could expect to see the ACM removed.

Echoing Malthouse’s comments communities secretary James Brokenshire said the government’s funding commitment would help speed the work along.

“For many buildings this is a complex job involving major construction work. We will be closely monitoring the work as it progresses.

“We are also supporting local authorities to take enforcement action where building owners are refusing to remediate, including through the Joint Inspection Team.”