The government has today announced that more than 35 homebuilders in England have voluntarily agreed to put £2 billion towards the remediation of unsafe high-rise buildings (of more than 11 metres) that they had a hand in developing.
The agreement states that developers will:
- Act as quickly as possible to fix buildings;
- Implement new proportionate guidance on building safety;
- Regularly report to leaseholders and government on their progress;
- Respect an independent dispute resolution process established by government; and
- Refund money already received from the taxpayer to fix their buildings.
More information on how the government plans to enforce the agreement in law, is apparently to be released in due course.
Whilst this is welcome news, it leaves a balance of £3 billion needing to be found in order to address the fire safety issues afflicting these types of buildings. Michael Gove has said that this sum will be found by extending the building safety levy, which will force the industry to pay for fixing problems when the developer cannot be traced or forced to pay. It will be paid by developers applying for Building Control approval for higher risk residential buildings in England.
The government is now calling upon homebuilders who have not yet signed up to the pledge to do so urgently, as they will be penalised if they do not shortly do so.
Developers who have agreed to a pledge:
- Avant
- Ballymore
- Barratt
- Bellway
- Berkeley
- Bewley
- Bloor
- Cala
- Churchill Retirement
- CG Fry
- Countryside
- Crest Nicholson*
- Croudace
- Davidsons
- Fairview
- Gleeson
- Hill Group
- Jelson
- Keepmoat Homes
- Tilia
- Lioncourt Homes
- London Square
- Lovell
- Mactaggart & Mickel
- McCarthy & Stone
- Miller Homes
- Morris Homes
- Persimmon
- Redrow
- Rowland Homes
- Strata
- St Modwen
- Taylor Wimpey
- Vistry Partnership
- Wainhomes
- William Davis
*Signalled intent
"I welcome the move by many of the largest developers to do the right thing. But this is just the beginning. We will do whatever it takes to hold industry to account, and under our new measures there will be nowhere to hide.”
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/agreement-with-major-developers-to-fund-building-safety-repairs