Yesterday the government set out tough new targets to fix unsafe buildings in England as part of a new Remediation Acceleration Plan. The plan introduces new measures to get buildings fixed quicker, ensure rogue freeholders are held to account, and puts the end in sight for affected residents. It will – for the first time – set clear target dates for making buildings safe and will propose to introduce significantly tougher penalties for refusing to act.
These changes are welcome and can’t come quickly enough for my constituents. Yesterday I raised concerns in Parliament about 46 residential blocks in Southampton Itchen that are still affected by unsafe cladding, leaving residents stuck in “unsellable flats”.
Speaking yesterday in the Commons chamber about the government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 2 report, I said that “residents in Southampton Itchen are looking on anxiously to see if we learn those lessons” and that they “know far too well and far too personally just how slow the progress has been of making all buildings safe.”
Criticising the slow pace of progress from developers, I said: “peace of mind is not yet felt by many residents in my constituency, where an unacceptably high number still live in buildings affected by cladding or fire safety risks. Some remediation has happened, and that is to be welcomed, but in too many places it is not happening fast enough, or leaseholders are paying the price.”
Referring to my recent public meeting with concerned constituents who are awaiting fire safety works, I highlighted the “unexpected bills for tens of thousands of pounds through their letterbox” which I described as “simply not acceptable”.
I also took the opportunity to highlight some of the changes that my Southampton Itchen constituents have called for. These include a clearly defined single construction regulator, a clearer set of responsibilities for managing agents and ensuring these are enforced, and improved regulation of insurance and service charges.
The remediation action plan shows that this Government are taking these issues seriously. While I’m very supportive, I would just urge Ministers, even where deadlines are set, to move even more quickly where possible. We have begun the crucial work to put right this scandal, and we must not rest until that is done in full.
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