COVID-19
as witnesses, to an unacceptable risk of infection. It would also send the wrong signal to the world at large at a time when everyone is being urged to cooperate with measures designed to minimise the effect of the virus. ‘We very much regret that it has been necessary to take this step and we shall be giving careful consideration to whether it is possible to resume hearings using electronic means, but even if that is not possible, the work of the Inquiry will continue. We shall keep you informed of developments as they occur and I hope that it will not be long before we can continue taking evidence’. The inquiry considered ‘shutting out most lawyers and the public’ after panel member Thouria Istephan became unwell ‘with symptoms similar to coronavirus’, though it was ‘too early to know’ if she had contracted it. Sir Martin was giving ‘serious consideration’ to ‘strictly limiting’ attendance, and noted that the restriction on those aged 70 and over would affect himself and lawyer Michael Mansfield (read more on the inquiry on pp12-16).
Leaseholders ask for support A joint statement from UK cladding action groups called on the government to help fund interim safety measures. Inside Housing reported on the statement from the Birmingham Leasehold Action Group, the Leeds Cladding Scandal group, Manchester Cladiators and the UK Cladding Action Group, which called on the government to ‘provide support with the cost of interim safety measures’ as the pandemic ‘mounts’. It called for assistance with the cost of waking watches, which can cost up to £1,000 per month per flat. While waking watches are a
‘mandatory requirement’ of many fire authorities ‘to keep buildings occupied’, the cost of keeping them in place is met by leaseholders ‘in many private sector buildings, and with more people self isolating, working from home or losing jobs as a result, ‘the costs will become even less bearable’.
In addition, the news outlet
pointed out that waking watch costs are added to ‘soaring’ insurance premiums for many buildings, ‘neither of which are covered’ by the government’s £1bn extra funding announced in the budget – limited to funding the removal of cladding. There are estimates of ‘hundreds of buildings across the country with waking watches in place’, more than 300 buildings having aluminium composite material cladding and hundreds more that have combustible materials. The joint statement read: ‘The
COVID-19 outbreak is the biggest public health challenge for a generation. We acknowledge the huge strain this rapidly changing crisis will place on government and the number of people who will require support as a result of it.
‘Nonetheless, the situation
is particularly critical for many leaseholders in buildings with dangerous cladding. ‘The huge additional and ongoing costs that many leaseholders have to pay as a result of living in dangerous cladding blocks means they face an impossible decision about work and self-isolation. No income means no ability to pay for the waking watch the building needs for them to stay in that building. ‘As these costs are not currently within the scope of the £1bn fund announced at [the recent] Budget, additional help is urgently required. For us, self-isolating means returning to a building which is a potential death trap. With many more people working at home or not able to work at all, they will be spending much more time in buildings where there are grave concerns about safety.’
Cladding removal paused Removal works at the New Capital Quay (NCQ) development were stopped due to the lockdown, with other works set to be paused. In 2018, NCQ residents were concerned they would have to pay an estimated £20,000 to £40,000
NEWS
per flat to remove combustible aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding. Developers Galliard Homes planned to sue the National House Building Council (NHBC) over payment, while residents were also considering legal action against Galliard. Then the NHBC intervened to
pay, announcing plans for the 11 blocks housing 2,000 residents in 992 flats in January 2019 – 334 of which are social housing. While work has started, one block – Admirals Tower – was not expected to ‘be finished until August 2021’. Inside Housing reported that work was ‘halted’ due to the lockdown, residents contacted by managing agent PMM Ltd to ‘inform them that the cladding removal works would halt due to the outbreak’. Residents claimed that Galliard
Homes’ delay in submitting a planning application ‘delayed the start’, with work ‘set to take almost six years’ even before this delay. PMM said that ‘the decision has been made to temporarily halt all cladding works at [NCQ]. ‘We will facilitate sub-contractors access to collect their tools, equipment and personal belongings. The teams will work to ensure NCQ is safely weathered, isolated, shut/ locked down while the restrictions are in place. It is with regret that we have to put works on hold, however we must safeguard the health of those that reside at the scheme along with those that work on the project. The waking watch will continue to be present at the scheme to ensure residents’ safety is maintained.’ The news outlet pointed out that the pause ‘will raise fears that other sites will also delay’, with 132 sites ‘underway’ in removing ACM including 75 social housing sites and 39 private sector developments, as well as 12 student blocks, four hotels and two public buildings. An ‘as-yet-unknown’ number will also require other combustible materials to be removed, such as timber and high pressure laminate
www.frmjournal.com MAY 2020 9
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
