8 INDUSTRY NEWS
Gove issues ultimatum on cladding repair
contract are entirely consistent with our existing commitment to protect leasehold- ers in multi-storey buildings we construct- ed from the costs of remediating cladding and life-critical fi re-related safety issues. We are pleased that we were able to work constructively with the Government to secure the agreement.” DLUHC said that once the contract is signed by developers, “leaseholders will benefi t from a common framework of rights and responsibilities that will get their buildings fi xed without them having to pay, and will require developers to inform residents in affected buildings how they will be meeting these commitments.” ove said that while a “signifi cant process” had been made to make safe “the most dangerous buildings” over 18 metres, “far too many” unsafe buildings still need remedial work.
The move follows Gove’s admission
Housing Secretary Michael Gove has giv- en a six-week ultimatum to developers to sign a contract to remedy residential tow- ers with ‘unsafe’ cladding, or be “banned from working in the sector.” Developers have received legally binding contracts from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) that will commit them to pay to repair buildings – which they are required to sign in six weeks.
Gove has warned that companies who fail to sign and comply with the terms of the contract will face “signifi cant con- sequences.” Legislation will be brought forward in the spring giving the Secretary of State “powers to prevent developers from operating freely in the housing mar- ket if they fail to sign and comply with the remediation contract.” Developers will be required to “make safe” £2bn worth of buildings that they developed or refur- bished over the past 30 years.
The contract also requires developers to “reimburse taxpayers where public money has been used to fi x unsafe buildings.” Following Gove’s earlier demands for developers to be held to account, “public pledges” were made by 49 leading devel- opers that they would “take responsibility to fi x their buildings,” and these “will now be turned into legally binding commit- ments,” said DLUHC. Gove commented: “Too many devel- opers, along with product manufacturers and freeholders, have profi ted from these unsafe buildings, and have a moral duty to do the right thing and pay for their repair. There will be nowhere to hide for those who fail to step up to their respon- sibilities – I will not hesitate to act, and they will face signifi cant consequences.” Dean Finch, group chief executive at
Persimmon, the fi rst developer to sign up to the contract, said: “The terms of the
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to the Sunday Times that the Building Regulations were “faulty and ambiguous” in the run-up to the renfell Tower fi re. He blamed collective government failures “over many years,” but also accused de- velopers of been an “active willingness to endanger lives for profi t.”
The Government in 2021 acknowledged “past failures” in overseeing construction safety, but said that if regulations had been followed the fi re could not have hap- pened. The Secretary of State told the Sunday Times that the aws in regulation “allowed unscrupulous people to exploit a broken system.” Architects and housing offi cials remain under investigation following the 2017 fi re, and the fi ndings of the inquiry will be published later this year.
Gove also drew a distinction between “sins of omission and sins of commission,” in a recent BBC interview, suggesting that, while the Government was guilty of the former, some developers were guilty of the latter. “There is an active willingness to put people in danger in order to make a profi t, which to my mind is a signifi cantly greater sin,” he said.
‘World-fi rst’ Energy House tests impact of climate change
Barratt Developments has partnered with Saint-Gobain and the University of Salford to build a concept home that will test the effects of climate change and “look at ways new houses can cope with more extreme weather conditions, whilst cutting
energy and water usage.”
The Energy House 2.0 is a specially-built “climate chamber” thought to be the larg- est of its kind yet built, that will recreate temperatures from -20C to 40C as well as simulating wind, rain, snow and solar radiation.
Barratt and Saint-Gobain have built a three-bedroom family home inside – known as eHome2 – to test “innovative” building products designed to meet the Future Homes Standard. The house will also test zero carbon performance in dif- ferent temperatures and weather condi- tions to replicate extreme changes in the climate. Saint Gobain commented: “The data will help to inform how the sector can design homes that are future-proof, while cutting bills for consumers.” The company added: “Achieving the Government’s carbon reduction targets will require a step-change in the design of new homes. Barratt, Saint-Gobain and The University of Salford are working together to create a blueprint for future homes, including working in partnership to develop new low carbon products, such as the use of timber and render, instead of brick and block.”
eHome2 is being built with an advanced timber frame solution, pre-insulated walls installed at the factory, and lightweight render-based bricks. The house will be built in 12-14 weeks – half the time it takes to build a standard home. Oliver Novakovic, technical and inno- vation director at Barratt, said: “As the leading national sustainable housebuilder, we’re building high-quality sustainable homes today, as well as innovating and adapting our designs for the future. Build- ing eHome2 within the Energy House is one of the most signifi cant projects that Barratt has ever undertaken.” He added: “Along with Saint-Gobain and the Univer- sity of Salford, we’re leading the way to test the impact that extreme temperatures caused by climate change could have. The 12-month project will inform us to build net zero housing at scale, using offsite methods of construction and lower carbon products.”
The £16m Energy House is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and “harnesses the University of Salford’s expertise in climate and the built environment.”
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