Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has plans to issue a public consultation on the rules governing permitted development in relation to the installation of commercial rooftop solar.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
There are extensive permitted development rights for the installation or alteration of solar equipment on non-domestic premises. They are set out in Class J of Part 14, Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. These rights are subject to limitations as well as conditions on where the equipment can be installed. There are no plans to consult on any changes to these permitted development rights.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the fire regulatory framework in ensuring fires do not spread beyond the room of origin in (a) high-rise flats, (b) medium-rise flats, (c) low-rise flats, (d) houses and (e) bungalows.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Last year, the Government commissioned Dame Judith Hackitt to carry out an Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety. We are considering Dame Judith’s recommendations for strengthening the system and will set out plans to take them forward in the autumn.
Separately, we have consulted on banning combustible materials for use in the external wall systems of high rise residential buildings and on restricting the use of assessments in lieu of tests and are analysing the responses to these consultations.
We are also consulting on a clarified version of the Building Regulations fire safety guidance and have announced that in the autumn we will publish a call for evidence to inform a technical review of the provisions in the guidance.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to require the removal of combustible cladding and insulation from (a) schools, (b) care homes and (c) hospitals.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
As of 12 July, 2018, fourteen publicly-owned buildings (including schools and hospitals) have failed large-scale system tests on their cladding systems. One building has now completed the remediation process, including removal and replacement of its aluminium composite material cladding. The other building owners are working with the relevant fire and rescue service and other specialists to consider remedial work, and are taking account of building users’ needs when they do so. We are not aware of any high-rise care homes with aluminium composite material cladding systems.
We are working with the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS Improvement and Department for Education to ensure that appropriate remediation steps are being taken on public buildings.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the timetable is for (a) the remedial work on all high-rise buildings with combustible cladding and (b) the implementation of a ban on combustible cladding.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The latest data available was published on 12 July 2018. Of the 159 social sector buildings that have combinations of Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding and insulation judged to have failed the large-scale tests 114 or 72 per cent have started the process of remediation. Of these, 13 buildings have finished remediation. Of the 301 private sector residential buildings with cladding systems that are unlikely to meet current Building Regulations guidance, local authorities have told us about plans for remediating 77 buildings. Of these, 23 buildings have started remediation, of which 4 have completed.
A new minister-chaired taskforce has been established to oversee the remediation of private sector buildings with aluminium composite material cladding systems. The taskforce is charged with ensuring that remediation plans are put in place swiftly across all private sector buildings with aluminium composite material cladding systems, and addressing any barriers or identifying any additional support required to achieve this.
The consultation on banning the use of combustible materials in the external walls of high-rise residential buildings closes on 14 August. Consultation responses will be analysed over the summer, with the outcome of the consultation to follow.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to introduce a more robust regulatory framework for fire conditions during tests of combustibility of materials.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Dame Judith Hackitt’s review recommended that test methods and standards should be regularly reviewed in order to drive continuous improvement. The Government has invited views on the Dame Judith’s findings and recommendations, and will set out an implementation plan in the autumn.