Insights
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 Michael Gove has described leasehold as an ‘outdated feudal system’ and, in an interview with The Sunday Times in January, said it should go.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
History repeats itself, but not in the way you might imagine. How identity politics is being used to diminish democracy.
In 1952, around the time of the last coronation, a Conservative government scrapped the nation’s ID card claiming it was too prone to abuse by a heavy-handed police force and would cause the public to mistrust it. Fast forward 50 years, and the New Labour government pushes through a bill to bring back National Identity Cards. In a matter of months after the initial launch, the Cameron-Clegg Coalition decided to abandon the scheme. A decade later, and it would seem the public’s mistrust of the police is now accepted and, by many, a justified fact. Yet the UK still does
Building Safety Bulletin – Week of April 24 – 30, 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. Developer remediation contract There have been no new signatories to the government’s developer remediation contract. So far, 46 developers have committed themselves to carrying out remedial works on life-critical fire safety defects with buildings they have developed or refurbished since 1993. There are four developers that have not signed the contract – Abbey Developments, Avant, Dandara and Rydon Homes. According to Michael Gove, none of the
Building Safety Bulletin – Week of April 17 – 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. Registration process for Building Safety Regulator opens The registration process for the Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) portal has commenced, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced last week. As part of the Building Safety Act’s reforms, all existing residential buildings with heights of at least 18 metres or 7 storeys should be registered with the BSR by 1 October. The Principle Accountable Person (PAP), which can
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