07 March 2022
Government response to proposal to remediate unsafe buildings over 11 metres
Response to Home Builders Federation commitment to remediate fire safety defects
For any queries please contact:
Eveline Strecker, Knowledge Development Lawyer2022
March
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Further Reading
January
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20 January 2022
New online service to track remediation of high-risk buildings
Further ReadingLeaseholders of buildings 18m and over with unsafe, non-ACM cladding can track the progress of Building Safety Fund applications.
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19 January 2022
Inquiry launched into building safety funding and remediation
Further ReadingThe effectiveness of Government’s planned measures to address cost of unsafe cladding remediation will be examined by the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee.
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10 January 2022
Government announcements to industry to address cost of cladding remediation
Essential Reading: Our InsightSecretary of State gives developers a deadline of early March 2022 to agree a fully-funded plan of remediation for unsafe cladding, including for 11-18 m buildings.
2021
October
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27 October 2021
4% residential property developer tax to apply from 1 April 2022
Further ReadingIt will apply to the largest residential property developers on profits made from UK residential property development.
September
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20 September 2021
Residential property developer tax - Draft legislation published for consultation
Essential Reading: Our InsightDraft legislation to be included in Finance Bill 2021-22. Final details to be announced in Autumn Budget, 27 October 2021.
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16 September 2021
Waking Watch Relief Fund applications further extended to 10 December 2021
Further Reading -
08 September 2021
HSE guidance on safety case principles published
Further ReadingIn anticipation of the Building Safety Bill coming into operation in 2022, the Health and Safety Executive has proposed safety case principles for high-rise residential buildings to manage risk of fire spread and for reporting on fire and safety hazards.
August
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01 August 2021
Planning Gateway one comes into effect
Further ReadingPlanning issues relating to fire safety must be incorporated in the development process of relevant high-rise residential building schemes.
July
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21 July 2021
Report on requirements of ‘golden thread’ during the design and construction phase
Essential Reading: Our InsightBuilding Regulations Advisory Committee’s report discusses obligations of dutyholders in maintaining digital thread of information.
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05 July 2021
Proposed timing for construction industry changes published
Further ReadingTransition plan forecasts Bill to receive Royal Assent mid-2022 with different provisions to take effect mid to late 2023 (within 12-18 months after Royal Assent).
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05 July 2021
Draft Building Safety Bill published
Further ReadingGuidance on the role of dutyholders during the design and construction phase published with Building Safety Regulator overseeing high-rise residential buildings.
June
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24 June 2021
’Golden thread’ of fire safety information for high rise residential buildings required from 1 August 2021.
Further ReadingPlanning Gateway one guidance published for a fire statement in planning applications for new and existing multi-residential dwellings and educational accommodation over 18 m in height to evidence fire safety considerations at planning stage.
May
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10 May 2021
Planning Gateway one for building safety announced
Essential Reading: Our InsightNew planning requirements for high-rise residential buildings are outlined by government. Subject to parliamentary scrutiny, the changes are due to come into effect from 1 August 2021.
April
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29 April 2021
New residential property developer tax consultation
Essential Reading: Our InsightThe new tax, proposed to take effect from 1 April 2022, seeks to capture the largest residential property developers. Although it is intended to help pay for remediation of unsafe cladding, it applies industry wide. Consultation on the proposal closes 22 July 2021.
Further reading
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29 April 2021
Fire Safety Act 2021 receives Royal Assent
Essential Reading: Our InsightThe Fire Safety Act 2021 is published, but not yet fully in force. It clarifies and extends the operation of the 2005 Fire Safety Order to all multi-residential buildings.
February
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16 February 2021
New Chief Inspector of Buildings announced to lead new Building Safety Regulator (BSR)
Essential Reading: Our InsightThe Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced the appointment of a Chief Inspector of Buildings to lead the new BSR which forms part of the draft Building Safety Bill and the new regulatory regime for high risk buildings and general oversight of building safety.
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10 February 2021
£3.5B government fund announced for removal of unsafe cladding in high-rise buildings - New levy and tax on developers
Essential Reading: Our InsightReplacing unsafe cladding for leaseholders in residential buildings 18 metres (six storeys) and over will be fully funded. Leaseholders in lower-rise buildings will have access to a long-term, low interest scheme. A developer levy and new tax for residential property development was also announced.
January
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19 January 2021
New national regulator for construction products announced – Ensuring homes are built from safe materials
Further ReadingThe regulator can remove unsafe products from the market, prosecute companies which break product safety rules and conduct its own product-testing. An independent review has also been commissioned to examine weaknesses in previous testing regimes for construction products.
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08 January 2021
RICS issues consultation on guidance for valuation of high-rise residential buildings with cladding
Further ReadingConsultation closed 25 January 2021.
2020
December
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17 December 2020
Government announces Waking Watch Relief Fund and extension to Building Safety Fund
Further ReadingThe UK Parliament Building Safety Update announced a £30M Waking Watch Relief Fund for installation of fire alarm systems in private high-rise buildings with unsafe cladding. The deadline to apply for the £1B Building Safety Fund for replacement of unsafe non-ACM is extended to 30 June 2021.
November
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24 November 2020
Parliamentary Committee report on Building Safety Bill published
Further ReadingThis follows legislative scrutiny, recommending that more detail is needed.
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Essential Reading: Our Insight
24 November 2020
Third reading of Fire Safety Bill 2019-21 in House of Lords
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21 November 2020
Government announces EWS1 certificates are no longer required for buildings without cladding
Further ReadingThis means that where owners of flats are selling or re-mortgaging their property, they will not need an EWS1 certificate where there is no cladding on the building.
July
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20 July 2020
Draft Building Safety Bill announced
Essential Reading: Our InsightImplementing major reforms of the building safety system following response to Building a safer future consultation (April 2020) including:
- Establishment of a new Building Safety Regulator (BSR);
- New role of ‘building control approvers’, replacing the role of Approved Inspectors;
- A new stricter regime for all ‘higher-risk buildings’ under the new three ‘Gateway’ system throughout planning, design and construction phases of a project;
- A new ‘duty-holder’ regime, including an ‘Accountable Person’ throughout the occupation of ‘higher-risk’ buildings.
Essential Reading -
20 July 2020
Government consultation: Fire safety and implementation of Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report
Further ReadingConsultation closed 12 October 2020
May
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26 May 2020
Registration prospectus published for Building Safety Fund for remediation of non-ACM cladding systems (England only)
Essential Reading: Our InsightRegistration prospectus: The £1bn fund is in addition to monies Government has already made available to cover cost of remediating high-rise buildings with unsafe ACM cladding.
Applications for fund extended to 30 June 2021.
April
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02 April 2020
Government publishes response to ‘Building a Safer Future’ consultation
Essential Reading: Our InsightThe response sets out proposals for a reformed building safety regulatory system in response to the Hackitt Report.
March
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19 March 2020
Government introduces the Fire Safety Bill
Essential Reading: Our InsightFire Safety Bill introduced to improve fire safety in buildings in England and Wales, requiring the responsible person or duty-holder for multi-occupied, residential buildings to manage and reduce fire risk in the structure and external walls of the building.
January
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27 January 2020
Phase 2 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry commences
Further ReadingPhase 2 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry commences, addressing eight distinct Modules.
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21 January 2020
Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 1 report published
Further ReadingGovernment’s response to Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 1 report is published, setting out steps being taken to implement the recommendations and work being undertaken to make buildings safer.
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20 January 2020
Government consultation: Expanding aspects of ban on use of combustible materials in external walls
Essential Reading: Our InsightProposals include inclusion of hotels and boarding houses, lowering the height threshold of the ban from 18 to 11 metres, and banning combustible composite materials in all buildings, regardless of height.
Consultation closed 25 May 2020
2019
December
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19 December 2019
New industry-wide process announced for valuation of high-rise buildings
Further ReadingA new industry-wide voluntary valuation process is announced by RICS for buying, selling and re-mortgaging homes in buildings above 18 metres (six storeys), including the use of EWS1 forms. The External Wall Fire Review Process requires a fire safety assessment to be carried out by a suitably qualified person and is valid for five years.
October
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30 October 2019
Report for Phase 1 of the Grenfell Tower inquiry is published
Further ReadingThe report explains what occurred at Grenfell Tower on 14 June 2017 and, among other things, recommends new legal requirements on owners and managers of high-rise residential buildings.
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14 October 2019
Implementation of a new building safety standard is announced
Essential Reading: Our InsightA new building safety standard is announced in the Queen’s Speech. Its purpose is to establish a new regulatory regime to create robust building safety standards, including the implementation of a new independent Building Safety Regulator (BSR).
June
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06 June 2019
Building a safer future consultation published
Essential Reading: Our InsightGovernment consultation proposes reform of the building safety regulatory system in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire, including creation of a ‘duty-holder’ system and increased focus on long-term maintenance and management of buildings post-construction.
Consultation closed 31 July 2019
Charles Russell Speechlys provided a response to the consultation
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06 June 2019
Government consultation: Review of Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Further ReadingGovernment seeks views on its fitness for purpose for non-domestic premises, although the call for evidence considers whether the Order should apply to common parts of multi-occupied residential buildings and to mixed-use buildings.
Consultation closed 31 July 2019
May
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09 May 2019
Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund announced
Further Reading£200M fund to remediate unsafe ACM cladding on private sector residential buildings 18 m or higher. Applications for the fund closed 31 December 2019.
2018
December
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21 December 2018
Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018 come into force in England
New Regulation 7(2) requires all materials which become part of a new or refurbished external wall on a building above 18m, containing one or more dwellings, to be of limited combustibility.
May
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17 May 2018
Dame Judith Hackitt’s final report is published
Essential Reading: Our InsightIt includes a powerful critique of the current regulatory framework and practices applicable to high-rise residential tower blocks.
Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety: Final Report.
2017
June
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14 June 2017
Grenfell Tower disaster
Fire breaks out at the 23 storey tower block in North Kensington, West London.
2015
October
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31 October 2015
New version, BS 9991:2015 published
Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings – Code of Practice is published and recommends any cladding and insulation material used above 18m should be of limited combustibility.
2011
December
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31 December 2011
BS 9991: 2011 Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings – Code of Practice published
It recommends that combustible materials should not be used in cladding systems.
2010
October
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01 October 2010
Current Building Regulations 2010 come into force
Parts B1 – B5, relating to fire safety, remain as per Building Regulations 2000.
2005
June
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07 June 2005
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in force
It covers general fire safety in England and Wales and will be amended by the Fire Safety Bill.
1991 - 2000
January
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01 January 2000
Building Regulations
Further versions of Building Regulations come into force, including a new Part B5 relating to access and facilities for the fire service.
1984
October
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31 October 1984
Building Act 1984 comes into force
Building Act 1984 comes into force permitting Building Regulations to be made and to approve ‘Approved Documents’.
