Building (Cladding) Safety Remediation Programme

The programme is being undertaken to address issues identified within the external wall systems of the buildings, where combustible material has been found to be present. Salix Homes is working with specialist fire, design and building safety professionals to develop the appropriate remediation works for each building.

The works are being progressed through the Government’s Cladding Safety Scheme, which provides funding to support the remediation of eligible buildings.

Sprinklers provide an additional level of fire protection within a building, but they do not remove or address issues identified within the external wall system.

The Cladding Safety Scheme funding is specifically intended to address eligible external wall fire safety issues. Our designs will therefore provide an appropriate solution to remove the existing external wall system, fully addressing the risk that has been identified and meet the relevant building safety and regulatory requirements.

The detailed construction programme cannot be confirmed until the designs have progressed further and a lead contractor has been appointed.

This is a significant programme of work across eight high-rise buildings and the works to each building are expected to take a considerable period of time.

Once a contractor is appointed and the construction methodology and programme are better understood, we will provide customers in affected buildings with more detailed information about anticipated start dates and how long the works are expected to take at each building.

Our current programme is for building (cladding) safety remediation programme works to start from 2027, subject to completion of the designs, funding approval, appointment of a contractor and the necessary regulatory approvals.

We will provide more specific dates for individual buildings as the programme develops.

We recognise that carrying out major works to our high-rise buildings will cause some disruption and minimising the impact on customers will be an important part of our planning.

We will work with the appointed contractor to consider how the works are sequenced and managed, including working hours, access, scaffolding, noise, dust, parking, deliveries and site compounds. We are committed to keeping customers informed at each stage of the programme and will ensure all customers are given advance notice of activities that are likely to have a particular impact.

Customer feedback about previous experiences of major works will also be considered when developing the delivery arrangements and we will continue to engage with customers in all affected buildings before the programme starts and throughout its delivery to make sure we are listening to any concerns and making any changes we can, where possible.

If any customers have any concerns or require any additional support at any stage of the work, please contact us on buildingsafety@salixhomes.co.uk.

We know that parking during the works is a concern at a number of our high-rise buildings that are part of the programme and this was a common issue raised by customers during the engagement sessions in July.

The exact requirements for contractor compounds, storage, deliveries and parking will not be known until the construction plans have been developed. We will work with the contractor to minimise the loss of customer parking wherever possible and communicate any temporary arrangements well in advance.

Customers have raised a number of suggestions around parking, including additional spaces, resurfacing, road markings and parking controls.

These comments have been recorded and will be considered going forward.

We recognise that leaseholder costs are an important and understandable concern. We would like to reassure any leaseholders that the main remediation works are being progressed through the Government’s Cladding Safety Scheme and Salix Homes is seeking grant funding for eligible works, which will mean that any cladding works will not be charged to leaseholders in the affected blocks.

If there are any additional improvement works that we undertake at the same time in order to minimise inconvenience to customers, which falls outside the funded remediation programme (such as communal floor replacement), these may be subject to charges to leaseholders in line with your lease agreement.

We will provide leaseholders with specific information before any decisions are made that could result in a charge. Leaseholders can also refer to previous communication that we have sent regarding potential costs and contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Customers have suggested a number of wider improvements, including communal decorations, lighting, lifts, intercom systems, bin areas, landscaping and parking.

We are looking to coordinate other planned works where this is practical and provides value for money.

A number of customers raised individual repairs and property issues during the engagement sessions in July. These have been recorded and passed to the appropriate team to progress.

Customers should continue to report day-to-day repairs through the usual Salix Homes repairs process by calling 0800 218 2000 or logging on to your MySalix account.

We will continue to provide regular updates as the programme progresses, including important developments around designs, surveys, contractor appointment, funding, regulatory approvals and construction.

We will use a combination of communication methods where appropriate, including letters, email, text messages, our website and face-to-face engagement. We also intend to keep this Q&A updated as the programme develops and further information becomes available.

Prior to the work commencing, a Liaison Officer will be appointed who will be a further point of contact for queries, updates or issues that might arise throughout the works.