With the deadline for applications to the Building Safety Fund (BSF) due to close on 31st December 2020, the Government has today announced that this date will be extended. The Ministry for Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) announced “a 6-month extension to the deadline for building owners to complete their applications to the £1 billion Building Safety Fund has also been announced – with a new deadline for submissions of 30 June 2021.”
Building Safety Minister Lord Greenhalgh is reported to have said:
“Our priority is making sure people are safer in their homes and we are working tirelessly to make this happen. The measures announced today build on our commitment, which will be enshrined in law through our Building Safety Bill, to improve the safety of buildings across the country. Building owners are responsible for making sure that their buildings, and the people who live in them, are safe. We continue to actively pursue them to encourage swift action and have supported this with £1.6 billion in government funding.”
Today’s announcement builds on the measures the MHCLG has already made to support leaseholders including securing an agreement that owners of flats in buildings without cladding do not need an EWS1 form to sell or re-mortgage their property during November 2020 – which is reported to benefited nearly 450,000 homeowners.
What is the fund?
The Building Safety Fund (BSF) opened for applications on 31 July 2020, following the announcement in March of a new £1bn Non-ACM Cladding Systems Remediation Fund. Where eligible, the BSF will meet the capital costs of removing and replacing unsafe non-ACM cladding systems on high rise residential buildings that would otherwise be passed on to leaseholders. The fund will address some of the barriers to remediation being carried out quickly.
How can Fellows assist?
Whether it be an informal discussion, or a formal appointment to help with the assessment and replacement of non-ACM cladding system, Fellows are here to help. As specialists in the delivery of both private and public mass residential housing, we are well versed in the changing statutory requirements and we are actively assisting our existing clients with this fluid regulatory environment.
How can we help: –
• Eligibility – Fellows can assist in an upfront assessment of your eligibility for the scheme
• Application – Fellows can provide specialist advice and support in the navigating the application process, including contacting the Ministry for Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) on your behalf
• Turn-key offering – As Project Managers, Fellows can actively assemble and co-ordinate a team of specialist consultants, consisting of a fire engineer, architect, engineer, building control officer and cost consultant experienced in this specialist regulatory environment. This tailor-made project team can help to plan, design, and procure replacement cladding in accordance with the MHCLG’s stringent funding rules
• Other specialist advice and guidance – Fellows can also assist with other specialist guidance outside of the BSF, such as the requirement for and appropriateness of the External Wall Fire Review (EWS1 form)
What next?
If you think that even at this late stage you could benefit from informal discussion, then we would be more than happy to help.
Please contact Jonathan Russell, Associate Project Manager, Fellows Construction Consultants on 07581309164 or via email at jr@fellowsconsultants.co.uk