MHCLG publish Approved Document B revisions and announce remediation funding application process

The Secretary of State, Robert Jenrick, has published a further update on measures stemming from the Building Safety Programme aimed at ensuring that residents are safe, and feel safe, in their homes. 

This latest package of policy updates and reports includes:

• The Prospectus for the Building Safety Fund for the Remediation of Non-ACM Cladding Systems; and
• An update to Approved Document B.

The announcement by the Secretary of State covers two areas of the Building Safety programme:

1) The Prospectus for the Building Safety Fund for the Remediation of Non-ACM Cladding Systems – in the 2020 Budget, the Government announced that it would provide £1 billion in 2020/21 to support the remediation of unsafe non-ACM cladding systems on residential buildings in both the private and social housing sectors that are 18 metres and over. 

Building owners, freeholders or other responsible entities are encouraged to register their buildings. The registration process will open in the first week of June, ahead of MHCLG publishing full guidance and the application process being made available by 31 July 2020 for buildings that meet the technical criteria.  

2) Response to MHCLG’s Consultation on sprinklers and other fire safety measures in new high-rise blocks of flats – MHCLG have published an update to the guidance to the building regulations (Approved Document B, or ADB). This amendment to ADB includes the  provisions of sprinkler systems and consistent wayfinding signage in new blocks of flats over 11 metres tall.  

These amendments will take effect on 26 November 2020, with the full transitional arrangements detailed in a circular letter published on 26 May. This is accompanied by the Government response to the consultation as well as the full impact assessment for the amendments to the guidance which can be found here

The Government has restated that it remains committed to bringing forward legislation to reform the system of fire and building safety, as well as give residents a stronger voice. MHCLG expects to publish the Building Safety Bill, including legislation for the radically new building and fire safety system, in draft before summer recess.