Cladding scandal: Reaction in SE London has government announce funding

More than two dozen private blocks and one tower in Bromley have been found to have material lining their walls that has been linked to the rapid spread of the deadly inferno in west London.

Homeowners have been ill with stress over fears that eyewatering fire safety costs will be passed on to them by private developers.

Westminster’s announcement comes following months of campaigning and rising pressure from fire action safety groups operating under the umbrella UK Cladding Action Group.

The group,

along with other affected buildings nationally, said on social media on Thursday morning: “While this will be a relief for thousands trapped in buildings with ACM cladding we must not forget the many, many leaseholders and social housing tenants living in blocks with other forms of unsafe cladding who will be excluded from this help.

“Fire does not distinguish between the different types of failed cladding out there. This inadequate response will be looked back on in in shame when the next Grenfell tragedy occurs.

“The announcement effectively brands this is a cladding lottery. Life changing sums are still being demanded for interim fire measures. Some people win from today’s announcement. But many still lose.”

Bromley Council and MP Bob Neill have been lobbying the government to remediate the 10-storey building, which has 57 worthless homes in it as long as the cladding and other inadequate fire safety measures remain.

Council leader Colin Smith said: “At face value this comes as fantastic news locally, mindful of the very difficult and stressful situation the residents at Northpoint Tower in Bromley town centre have been facing post Grenfell.

“Whilst the precise details are still awaited, the Government’s reported confirmation and commitment to provide the necessary funding to get this task completed is something we have been lobbying over for some time now, and with that seemingly now in the bag, our thoughts now turn immediately to pressing the owners to apply for the funds to get the job done in the shortest possible timeframe.”

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MP Bob Neill added: “A number of outstanding issues remain, and I will continue to work closely with all the residents affected to bring these to a timely conclusion.

“That includes keeping the pressure on the building owner to ensure this very welcome remedial fund is accessed as soon as possible.

“But for now, today’s announcement is a significant step in the right direction, and one that stands testament to the hard work of everyone involved, not least the Northpoint residents.”

Nearby Greenwich has the highest number of dangerously clad buildings in the country,

New Capital Quay is thought to be the biggest development in Europe with combustible cladding, with others found at Babbage Point and City Peninsula.

There are six developments in the constituency of MP Matthew Pennycook that have been found to have inadequate cladding.

Pennycook told the LDR service: “Residents living in blocks wrapped in deadly Grenfell-style cladding, like the thousands in my constituency, have had to suffer years of stress and strain, trapped in properties that cannot be sold.

“A number of private owners have done the right thing, but far too many have been too slow to act or have failed to act at all. A government loan fund is long overdue but welcome.

“Ministers must now act to ensure that those private building owners that have dragged their feet begin remedial work immediately and also to protect leaseholders from the significant costs of the interim fire safety measures that in many cases have been in place for a considerable amount of time as a result of a failure on the part of private building owners to take prompt action.”