Insights
The Remediation Acceleration Plan
The Remediation Acceleration Plan was announced today. It sets out several key deadlines to ensure the safety of buildings with unsafe cladding in England: – By 31 March 2025: All firms must start remediation work on high-rise buildings (18m+). If they fail to do so, the government may take direct action. – By July 2026: Developers are encouraged to start or complete remedial works on 80% of the buildings for which they are responsible. – By July 2027: Developers should have started or completed remedial works on 100% of the buildings for which they are responsible. – By the end of
Communication is Everything: The Rest is Politics
All organisations which seek to market services or products or have a mission to fulfil, know that communicating their values, vision and brand positioning are at the centre of a successful external relations strategy. With a general election coming up, the same organisations must understand that 4 July is not simply an opportunity for private individuals to exercise their vote. For organisations with a desire to be seen in their sectors, the election presents a golden opportunity to demonstrate positive civic involvement. There are risks in engaging publicly with politics, of course. But, as Jeanette Winterson wrote, “What you risk
Building Safety Bulletin – Week of May 22 – June 4, 2023
Welcome to this week’s building safety bulletin, where we look at the latest developments affecting developers, leaseholders, contractors, housing providers and anyone else interested in the UK’s building safety crisis. 1. Building safety regulator registrations The Health and Safety Executive (HAS) has said around 750 registration applications have been sent to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) since the process for high-rise buildings opened in April. The HSE has said there are around 12,500 high-rise residential buildings that must be registered with the new regulator by the end of September, so there’s still some way to go. New buildings completed after 1 October
Building Safety Bulletin – Week of May 15 – 21, 2023
Welcome to this week’s building safety bulletin. This page outlines some of the significant news and changes affecting developers, leaseholders, contractors, housing providers, and anyone else interested in the UK’s building safety crisis. 1. Leasehold abolition to be dropped The Guardian has reported that the government is abandoning its plans to abolish the leasehold system. Michael Gove has described leasehold as an ‘outdated feudal system’ and, in an interview with The Sunday Times in January, said it should go. Matthew Pennycook, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning, responded to these reports by saying they represent the ‘latest broken promise in 13 years of failure’
Building Safety Bulletin – Week of May 1 – 7, 2023
Welcome to this week’s building safety bulletin. This page outlines some of the significant news and changes affecting developers, leaseholders, contractors, housing providers, and anyone else interested in the UK’s building safety crisis. 1. Another developer signs remediation contract This week, Viva Midco Limited, the parent company of Avant Homes, joined 46 other firms in signing the government’s developer self-remediation contract. Avant’s signature comes seven weeks after the government’s deadline. There are three developers – Abbey Developments, Dandara and Rydon Homes – that are yet to agree to the terms of the remediation contract. Dandara is reportedly currently holding ‘positive’
England local elections – 4 May 2023
An election day commentary from company director Spencer Neal. As the polling stations swing into action and dogs pose for their Insta moment, most of the punditry is focused on how the 2023 Local Elections are a crucial examination of Labour’s electability at the next General Election. Online blogs and newspaper columns alike drill down into the mechanics of expectation management and the local, regional and national traction that the political groups, from Labour and Conservatives to the Greens, independents and resident representatives, have achieved in each ward, district and borough. Most commentators acknowledge that not all councillors and mayors
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