The Government may miss its 2035 target for removing unsafe cladding from buildings because of slow progress, a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) has revealed.
The NAO stated that up to 60 per cent of buildings with dangerous cladding remain unidentified, suggesting that the current pace is insufficient to meet the deadline.
The report also raised concerns about fraud, with potential losses more than £500,000, prompting a review of anti-fraud measures.
Following the Grenfell Inquiry’s findings, the Government allocated £5.1 billion to address cladding issues across affected buildings.
While remediation work has accelerated, only about a third of projects have been completed, with some buildings still awaiting removal or replacement of cladding.
The report highlighted challenges with funding and enforcement, suggesting further steps may be needed to improve outcomes.
Building Safety Minister Alex Norris acknowledged the slow pace and has announced plans to tackle it, while Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently committed more than £1 billion in additional funds for cladding removal.
Cllr Adam Hug, the LGA’s Building Safety Spokesperson, said: “Councils are determined to ensure that residents are safe and feel safe in their homes, but face significant barriers in accessing existing funding schemes.
“It’s positive that the Government has listened to councils and the LGA and intends to address this issue. We look forward to seeing the details, which need to include long-term funding certainty if they are to be effective.”
