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7 May, 6 tweets, 2 min read
This is absolutely shocking!

Four years since Grenfell and a fire at a block still covered in Grenfell-style ACM.

Videos seem to show that it has spread across the external wall and has affected more than one flat. Beggars belief!
I wrote about this block More than two years ago. At the time the developer Ballymore had given leaseholders a two week ultimatum over the costs to remove this dangerous cladding. insidehousing.co.uk/news/residents…
Just reading over this story again and it is amazing the Ballymore's position on the cladding at the time.
It is important to note that soon after this story was published the government set up a £200m so that developers could access to remove ACM. Costs for should no longer have been an issue👇

So, why the inaction? insidehousing.co.uk/news/governmen…
Here is a response we got from Ballymore last month for a piece looking at those building owners who had yet to start ACM removal work. Yes, that's right, work hasn't even started on the block👇
Important to point out here that the gov has given several deadlines for ACM to be removed. All have been missed. One was for all ACM to be removed by last June.

That was not met.

In some cases (like at New Providence Wharf) work hasn't even started.
insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/gove…

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More from @JSimpsonjourno

Jack Simpson Profile picture
15 Apr
The @insidehousing team has spent weeks investigating the landlords yet to start work to remove dangerous ACM cladding from their blocks 4 years since Grenfell.

From offshore companies, to big developers, to unfindable freeholders, here they are👇insidehousing.co.uk/insight/named-…
The findings are shocking on two levels.

Firstly, nearly 4 years after the Grenfell Tower tragedy and despite gov pressure, a £200m removal fund, and the fact that ACM has been confirmed as really bloody dangerous 👇, these firms have yet to start work insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/gren…
Remember, this comes after the government stated in 2019 that work needed to be COMPLETED by June 2020.

If freeholders didn't have a plan in place by Dec 2019, the gov threatened 'enforcement action'
insidehousing.co.uk/news/grenfell-…
Read 11 tweets
Jack Simpson Profile picture
8 Mar
So, here it is....@RICSnews has published its new guidance on which buildings should require the fire safety check.

The gov claims that it could mean 500,000 leaseholders no longer need the check. But what are the new rules, and is the gov right? Thread👇insidehousing.co.uk/news/new-guida…
First things first, what does the new guidance say.

1) Buildings four storeys and under will not require an EWS check, unless they contain certain materials. HPL has been added to this list from the first changes put forward by @RICSnews in Jan
2) For buildings between five an six storeys. EWS are not needed if cladding is not ACM, MCM or HPL, and if it covers less than 25% of building. If you have balconies, must not be timber-decked and not directly below others.
Read 17 tweets
Jack Simpson Profile picture
10 Feb
Great to see @insidehousing and the @EOCS_Official survey get pick up by LBC this morning. Some of the findings are eye opening:
👉1 in 6 leaseholders exploring bankruptcy options
👉1 in 3 face bills over £50k (15% £100k-plus)
👉68% must fix problems with defective firebreaks
Full statistics and breadkown can be found @insidehousing insidehousing.co.uk/insight/what-d…
One interesting takeaway is how politically important this issue is for the Conservative Party. The perceived inaction so far has clearly had an impact on the way its supporters may vote in the future
Read 4 tweets
Jack Simpson Profile picture
10 Feb
The gov looks set to announce its next plan to fix the cladding scandal. Looks like we could see funding increased to £5bn, with a £2bn levy on developers. Reported it will only be for removing cladding on buildings >18m.

Some quick reflections from me👇 insidehousing.co.uk/news/jenrick-p…
Firstly, is a step in the right direction and testament to the work by groups like @UKCAG and @MCRcladiators. Two years ago, consisted of a handful of l’holders in ACM blocks and gov had given no money to private blocks. It is now a national movement. theguardian.com/society/2019/m…
The £5bn will help out a lot more leaseholders but will not get anywhere near the £15bn that it has been estimated fixing the building safety crisis will cost. There will be those that miss out. Once again, we could be looking at another ‘cladding lottery’ insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/leas…
Read 14 tweets
Jack Simpson Profile picture
27 Oct 20
🚨Grenfell lunchtime update🚨
Today we heard from expert witness Beryl Menzies, who is a specialist in building control.

Discussion revolved around the role of building control on large construction projects and its application at Grenfell.
Ms Menzies began by running through what she thought the role of the building safety inspector was, and whether it was a ‘safety net’ for construction projects👇
Two types of building control

Approved inspectors – private firms

Local authority - Council run

RBKC building control was in charge at Grenfell.

LA departments had been under pressures to achieve 'cost neutrality' since 2010 👇
Read 8 tweets
Jack Simpson Profile picture
26 Oct 20
🚨Grenfell Inquiry lunchtime update🚨

This morning Peter Maddison (PM), the KCTMO’s director of assets and regen, gave evidence.

There was much discussion about the procurement of Rydon, and if meetings with the contractor before contract award breached procurement regulations.
More..
- PM was aware Rydon meeting would leave TMO open to challenge from other bidders
- Legal advice said certain meetings with contractors would breach procurement rules
- Emails reveal TMO told RBKC housing director to ‘bring pressure to bear’ on planners over cladding
Discussion begun around a meeting that took place between PM, other TMO staff, and Rydon on 18 March. A day before Rydon was officially chosen as the preferred bidder for the Grenfell refurb.
Read 13 tweets

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