The government has announced an expansion of its funding program to assist with the removal of dangerous cladding from more buildings. Previously, financial support was restricted to residential blocks 59 feet (18 meters) or taller, leaving owners in lower-rise structures to cover the costs of remediation themselves.
Under the revised plans, buildings under 36 feet (11 meters) will now be eligible to apply for financial assistance. The government intends to prioritize properties based on the risk they pose to residents. This change is part of the Remediation Acceleration Plan, introduced in December 2024, which builds upon the recommendations from the Grenfell inquiry. The 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, which claimed 72 lives, highlighted the role of cladding in the rapid spread of the blaze.
Building Safety Minister Samantha Dixon stated, "Residents shouldn't be left worrying about living in homes with dangerous, flammable cladding, just because their building isn't tall enough to qualify for funding." Applications for the extended program are set to open in August, though specific funding amounts have not yet been disclosed.
The Remediation Acceleration Plan also commits to ensuring that by 2029, all buildings 36 feet and above with unsafe cladding will have either completed remediation works, have a scheduled completion date, or face significant penalties for landlords.
Recent figures released in June indicate that as of the end of May 2026, remediation work has begun or been completed on 2,331 buildings. A total of 4,411 residential buildings measuring 36 feet or higher have been identified as having unsafe cladding.
Kate Henderson, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, welcomed the government's decision, describing it as an "important step towards accelerating remediation." She added, "This is an approach the sector has long called for, as height alone is not a reliable measure of risk, and will ensure capacity is directed to where it's needed most." The government emphasized that these changes are part of broader efforts to resolve building safety issues "quickly and fairly, without leaving leaseholders facing unreasonable costs."