Government policy on cladding remediation continues to focus on accelerating progress, improving oversight, and strengthening accountability where unsafe cladding has been identified.

Updates to the Remediation Acceleration Plan (RAP) set out a clear direction for how remediation is expected to be progressed across England.

Rather than introducing a single new requirement, this direction brings together funding, monitoring, and enforcement measures aimed at reducing delay and improving consistency.

 

Key elements of the government approach

The current policy framework includes a number of measures intended to support and, where necessary, compel progress on remediation, including:

  • A revised Remediation Acceleration Plan, reinforcing expectations that buildings with unsafe cladding are identified and progressed
  • Additional government-backed funding, particularly to support remediation in the social housing sector
  • Proposals for new legislation to strengthen enforcement powers where remediation is not being progressed
  • The development of a National Remediation System to improve data collection, visibility, and oversight of remediation activity
  • Clearer expectations around fire risk assessment scope, intended to reduce uncertainty and delay

Alongside these measures, the government has set long-term targets for completing remediation on higher-risk residential buildings, reinforcing the expectation that identified risks are actively managed and addressed.

 

What this means in practice for building owners

These measures signal a continued shift toward greater scrutiny and accountability. Building owners and property managers are increasingly expected to be able to demonstrate that:

  • External wall fire risks have been properly assessed
  • Decisions on remediation or mitigation are based on clear evidence
  • Progress is being actively managed and documented

This places greater importance on the quality of external wall fire risk assessments and the rationale underpinning remediation decisions.

 

The role of proportionate, risk-based assessment

Risk based assessments show not all buildings present the same level of risk, and not all findings lead to the same outcomes. Risk-based approaches, including PAS 9980, remain central to determining what action is appropriate for a particular building.

The assessments helps ensure that fire safety is prioritised, while avoiding unnecessary or overly conservative interventions where risks can be managed in other ways.

 

How FRC supports clients

Navigating cladding remediation requires an understanding of construction, fire behaviour, and how regulatory requirements are being pplied in practice.

FRC works on behalf of building owners and property managers to assess external wall fire risk, provide PAS 9980 guidance, and support informed, evidence-based decision-making around remediation and ongoing compliance.

 

If you would like to discuss how current government expectations apply to your building, contact FRC to find out how we can help.