Cladding removal scheme launched

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Homes England have launched the Cladding Safety Scheme to give thousands more buildings access to government funding to fix dangerous cladding for the first time.

The fund means that that costs associated with removing unsafe cladding in mid-rise buildings will now be covered by government funding, protecting leaseholders from costs where the responsible developer cannot be made to pay.

The scheme will be available to all medium-rise buildings between 11 and 18 metres across England and high-rise buildings over 18 metres outside of London where fire safety professionals have recommended that works must take place.

It is estimated that thousands more mid-rise buildings will qualify for the funding, so that tens of thousands of residents across England a pathway to a safe home, with no cost whatsoever to leaseholders in the building.

The scheme will be funded by the £5.1 billion allocated by government to fix the most dangerous buildings and through revenue from the Building Safety Levy on new development.

Peter Denton, chief executive of Homes England, said: "The Cladding Safety Scheme pilot was an important step in removing the cost burden on leaseholders trapped in unsafe homes and built on the progress made on building safety.

"The full rollout of the programme allows us to go even further. Our team is ready to go, and we expect thousands of buildings to benefit over the next decade.

"We will continue to work with DLUHC to ensure the pace we’re working at is maintained, so we can bring peace of mind and protection to the millions of people whose lives have been affected by unsafe cladding."

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