Deadline for firms to put pen to paper on fire safety pledge was at start of week
Housebuilders Telford Homes and London Square have signed the government’s cladding contract with others saying they expect to sign it shortly.
On Tuesday, housing secretary Michael Gove named 11 developers that had not signed the “self remediation” contract to carry out fire safety repairs on blocks over 11m.
Gove threatened to stop any developers that failed to not sign the contract from being able to start new developments in England or receive building control approval for work already underway.
A spokesperson for Telford Homes said: “[We] can confirm we have signed the government’s binding pledge contract.”
London Square said the government’s handling of the matter was “very disappointing” as the department had now conceded that it had not built any homes with fire safety or cladding problems.
It said: “We have never had any cladding or fire safety issues yet remain totally committed to the pledge signed last year that leaseholders should not have to pay for any costs associated with fire safety remediation work and our agreement needed to reflect this.”
Meanwhile, two other builders on the list read out by Gove said they intended to sign the contract.
Dandara said it had not been invited to any of the original consultations between the government, the Homes Builders Federation and 50 of the UK’s biggest housebuilding companies, which had delayed it signing the contract.
But it added: “We have proactively engaged with owners and management companies to investigate and undertake any remediation works that may be required in respect of fire safety issues. We expect to sign the developer remediation contract imminently.”
And Inland Homes stated it had been in “regular dialogue” with DLUHC, law firm Slaughter & May, which has been assisting DLUHC prepare the developer remediation contract, and the House Builders Federation.
The developer, which has had to delay publication of its latest financial results and has seen a number of senior board members resign, said: “Inland requested for an extension of time due to recent changes to its board of directors. Regular dialogue is continuing with DLUHC and Slaughter & May, and Inland hopes to be able to sign the contract during April 2023.”
Firms signing the contract commit to remediating blocks over 11m in which they have had any development or refurbishment involvement over the past 30 years.
The deadline for signing the contract was at the start of this week.
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