Final Grenfell Tower report published

 The independent review by Dame Judith Hackitt into Building Regulations and fire safety, set up following the Grenfell Tower fire, has published its final report.

The report makes many recommendations including:

• setting up a new regulatory framework for multi-occupancy higher risk residential buildings (HRRBs) of ten storeys or more in height.  The new framework will involve a new Joint Competent Authority (JCA) including local authority building control (to be renamed “local authority building standards” (LABS)), fire and rescue authorities and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).  The JCA is to oversee the management of safety risks in HRRBs for their whole life cycle;

• a stricter regime to oversee the construction of HRRBs, that clarifies the role of LABS and the role of any approved inspector; and

• a greater focus on safety during the occupation of a building, to include a way for tenants to raise concerns.

The government has said it is committed to implement the report, which will require new legislation.  Although it has not stipulated a strict timetable, the government has asked anyone with comments on how to achieve the report’s recommendations to contact it by the end of July.

In addition, the media has highlighted that the report does not recommend a ban on the use of flammable cladding for high-rise buildings.  The government has responded by announcing a consultation on flammable cladding.”