Recommendation 35

In December 2024, MHCLG published remediation cost information per square metre for high–rise buildings over 18 metres in the Building Safety Fund with a view to helping building owners understand the expected 56 Qq 31, 93, 93, 118; CA&G’s Report paras 13, 3.1, Appendix One 57 Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, Annex A: Technical guidance for applicants of building safety funding applying for funding via PAS 9980: 2022, updated 2 April 2024 58 RDC0099 Written evidence submitted by the National Fire Chiefs Council 59 Q 3; RDC0145 Written evidence submitted by End Our Cladding Scandal 22 range of costs for remediation and provide greater transparency to the public. MHCLG reported that the expected costs should range from £739 to £2,528 per m2. For most of the buildings in this dataset, remediation works had been agreed under the more risk-averse standard that pre–dated PAS 9980. Remediation costs had therefore, in most cases, included the removal and replacement of unsafe cladding. The proportionate approach to remediation that MHCLG adopted in 2022, and the PAS 9980 standard that supports it, favour lower cost mitigation measures such as sprinklers where risk to life is deemed tolerable. MHCLG therefore expected unit costs to change as more buildings are assessed under the newer standard.60