Brandschutz-Krise: 5.900–7.400 Wohnhäuser in England noch unsaniert
03.07.2026 - 01:38:24 | boerse-global.de
The UK government has formally submitted a planning application for the sensitive deconstruction of Grenfell Tower, as new figures reveal thousands of residential buildings across England still await fire safety remediation. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is also pursuing multimillion-pound recovery orders against developers under the Building Safety Act 2022, signalling a significant intensification of enforcement.
Planning Application Filed for Tower Take-Down
The MHCLG has lodged a planning application with the Planning Inspectorate covering the removal of the 24-storey structure, though the basement is excluded from the current scope. The deconstruction process, overseen by Minister Alison McGovern, is expected to take approximately two years. Work began in September 2025.
Officials have noted that a separate application regarding a permanent memorial for the site is anticipated later in 2026. The current planning phase addresses environmental and safety concerns, including noise mitigation, dust control, and the management of bat roosts identified at the site.
Fire safety remains a pressing concern for buildings nationwide, and the cost of non?compliance is rising. A free Fire Safety Toolkit gives you a complete package of risk?assessment templates, evacuation plans, and training materials designed to meet current UK regulations. Download the free Fire Safety Toolkit
Thousands of Buildings Still Await Remediation
Government figures released in recent weeks indicate that between 5,900 and 7,400 residential buildings over 11 metres in height in England were identified as having unsafe cladding. As of May 2026, the government was tracking 4,411 specific buildings for remediation.
Of those tracked buildings, 53% have either started or completed the necessary safety works. However, only 38% — 1,672 buildings — are recorded as fully complete. Data from The Property Institute (TPI) further suggests that nearly half of the projects in active delivery are currently stalled.
The financial scale of the crisis remains significant. Total remediation costs are now estimated to fall between ÂŁ11.8 billion and ÂŁ22.7 billion. To date, the government has made approximately ÂŁ9.2 billion in funding available. The CEO of TPI described the current pace and the volume of stalled projects as alarming.
Courts Enforce Building Safety Act via Liability Orders
Legal enforcement of building safety standards has intensified following landmark rulings in the High Court. In a significant application of the Building Safety Act 2022, the court awarded contractor Mulalley ÂŁ1.8 million in a case involving defective cladding at Parkside Court in Chelmsford.
The ruling is notable for being the first reported judgment to grant a Building Liability Order (BLO) against an overseas parent company. The court held the German parent company of manufacturer Sto liable for 87.5% of the remedial costs.
In a separate development, an adjudicator awarded £14.9 million against Ardmore Construction regarding fire safety defects at the Admiralty Quarter in Portsmouth. The case involved combustible insulation and missing cavity barriers. Developer Crest Nicholson utilised the Building Safety Act to seek anticipatory BLOs against the entire Ardmore group — a decision Ardmore is currently appealing.
The government is also using the Act to recover funds directly. The MHCLG is seeking a Remediation Contribution Order of approximately ÂŁ50 million from Urban Splash to cover fire safety work across seven buildings in Manchester.
High-Rise Blocks Face Demolition Over Safety Defects
Where remediation has been deemed financially or structurally unviable, authorities are turning to demolition. Ipswich Borough Council recently approved plans to demolish Cardinal Lofts, a nine-storey waterfront block. The building was evacuated in 2023 after investigations revealed combustible cladding, failed fire doors, and inadequate compartmentation.
Similarly, in Paignton, magistrates granted Torbay Council a consent order to demolish unsafe privately owned buildings in Station Square after masonry began falling from the structures in the spring.
Regulatory Clarifications and Safety Trends
As enforcement continues, the government has provided clarification on the scope of the Building Safety Act. In a letter dated June 15, 2026, Building Safety Minister Samantha Dixon confirmed that temporary scaffolding is not classified as building work under the Act's dutyholder rules, unless the structure is intended to remain as part of the finished building. The National Access & Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) welcomed the move, noting it prevents scaffold contractors from being burdened with unnecessary paperwork.
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While cladding remediation continues, broader construction safety data shows improvement. Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for the period between April 2025 and March 2026 indicate that construction worker deaths have halved over the last two years, falling to 25 fatalities. Fire safety non-compliance in the sector reportedly improved by 37% between the 2023/24 and 2024/25 periods.
