The government has confirmed that dangerous cladding removal funding will be extended to residential buildings under 11 metres in height, a change that could affect thousands of blocks previously left outside the scope of existing schemes.
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What’s changing
Until now, the Cladding Safety Scheme only covered buildings at or above 18 metres. Buildings under 11 metres had been excluded from leaseholder protections on the basis that serious cladding problems were considered less common at lower heights. That left many leaseholders in smaller buildings facing the cost of fixing safety issues themselves.
Applications for the expanded scheme are due to open in August 2026, with support prioritised by risk factors rather than building height alone. The building safety minister has said the change is intended so that buildings posing the greatest risk to residents are prioritised, alongside efforts to streamline processes and clarify responsibilities.
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Wider building safety reforms
The announcement forms part of the wider Remediation Acceleration Plan, which targets all buildings at or above 11 metres with unsafe cladding being either fully remediated or given a confirmed completion date by 2029.
Alongside the funding expansion, government has accepted a recommendation from the Grenfell Inquiry to create a Single Construction Regulator, merging the Building Safety Regulator and the National Regulator for Construction Products to reduce fragmentation. Primary legislation for the new body will follow when parliamentary time allows.
A review into building insurance pricing has also been launched by the Financial Conduct Authority, aimed at understanding whether leaseholders are being charged fairly for cover.
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What this means for building owners and managers
For organisations responsible for residential stock, the expanded scheme brings both opportunity and complexity:
- Buildings previously excluded on height grounds may now be eligible for support
- Applications will need to demonstrate fire safety risk, not just building height
- Coordination between funding applications, remediation programmes and resident communication will be key to a smooth process
- Wider regulatory change, including the move towards a Single Construction Regulator, may affect how compliance and assessment processes are managed in future
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How Potter Raper can help
Our Building Surveying, Fire Safety and Project Management teams support clients through every stage of remediation, from initial risk assessment and funding applications through to delivery on site. We help Local Authorities, Housing Associations and Developers navigate scheme eligibility, manage resident engagement, and keep remediation programmes on track.
If you’re reviewing your building safety position in light of these changes, we’re here to help.
Speak to our team
Contact us: https://potterraper.co.uk/contact/
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