Grenfell-style combustible cladding ban to cost high-rise developers and owners £337m over next decade

The government’s ban on the use of Grenfell-style combustible materials on new high-rise buildings will cost the industry up to £337m, it has emerged.

In an impact assessment of the legislation, Whitehall revealed the direct cost to developers and owners is expected to be between £249m and £337m over 10 years.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) analysis gives two potential options.

Option one, entitled “do nothing”, includes a partial ban, allowing the continuation of a mix of combustible and non-combustible materials being used on high-rises. Option two is a full ban, which the department chose to implement.

The ban applies to all new residential buildings more than 18 metres tall, as well as new hospitals, student halls and care homes that surpass that height.

The legislation also gives local councils the power to strip combustible cladding and insulation from private buildings where landlords have thus far failed to do so, and reclaim the cost from the owners.

It follows 18 months of pressure on the government to act after the devastating fire at Grenfell Tower killed 72 people last year. The deadly, rapid spread of the blaze has been widely blamed on the Aluminium Composite Material cladding on the building.

Housing secretary James Brokenshire announced the ban at the Conservative Party Conference in September, but changes in regulations came into place yesterday.

Kate Henderson, chief executive of the National Housing Federation said: “This must be the starting point of a complete overhaul of our building safety system and it is now vital that the government doesn’t lose momentum on this.

“Government are absolutely doing the right thing by giving local authorities the power to remove dangerous cladding from privately owned building. People need to feel safe in their home regardless of where they live and who owns their building.”