The government’s fear of financial liability for the hundreds of tower blocks clad with combustible material has made it “slow” to amend the regulations that led to the situation, according to an influential MP.

Labour MP Clive Betts, chair of the housing, communities and local government select committee, told Building the government should accept liability for the cost of replacing combustible cladding installed in compliance with building regulations.

The government has, since shortly after last year’s blaze at Grenfell Tower, maintained that building regulations guidance at the time required cladding panels to be of limited combustibility, a point disputed by many in the industry.

“The £400m may pay for local authority ACM, but what about the private sector blocks?”

Clive Betts MP

 

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