News22.07.25by Jenny Messenger
Remediation work has been completed on 41.4% of social buildings in the Welsh government’s building safety programme, while 12.9% still have no plans in place, according to new data.
Cladding being removed from a building in Cardiff (picture: Alamy)
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Remediation work yet to be completed on more than half of affected social housing in Wales #UKhousing
In an update, the Welsh government said that there are currently 186 social buildings and 275 private tenure buildings in the programme.
Just under a third of social buildings – 30.7% – have had works started, while 9.7% are awaiting surveys and 5.4% have plans in place but work has not started.
For the 161 buildings where developers are leading on remediation, 39.1% have plans in place but works have not been started, while 27.3% have seen works started.
According to analysis from Senedd Research, the Welsh parliament’s information service, just four out of the 161 buildings have had works completed.
This means no progress has been made on developers completing works since the pace of remediation work was criticised back in March, with the chair of the Senedd’s Local Government and Housing Committee raising concerns after meeting a group of affected residents.
Overall, for 43% of the 461 buildings, works are either complete or underway, 47% of buildings are in the planning stages, and 10% either do not require works or remediation needs are yet to be identified.
Jayne Bryant, cabinet secretary for housing and local government, said: “It is essential that the lessons learned from the Grenfell disaster continue to shape our approach to building safety in Wales and I am fully committed to ensuring they do.”
Ms Bryant said she had met with developers to discuss a future target for having works started on all developments in Wales and that conversations were “ongoing”.
Earlier this month, Ms Bryant introduced the Building Safety (Wales) Bill to the Senedd, which will bring in a new regime focusing on the occupation and ongoing management of multi-occupied residential buildings.
It is expected to come into force in April 2027.
An impact assessment estimated the bill will cost the sector £132m over 10 years for requirements such as reviewing fire risk assessments, managing information and giving residents safety information.
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