Growing concern over who will pay to fix cladding on tower blocks in wake of Grenfell fire
Video report by ITV News Consumer Editor Chris Choi
As more than 100 tower blocks fail the latest fire safety tests, councils have revealed the huge cost of carrying out improvement works.
ITV News has learned that several councils are now petitioning the Government for financial help following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
ITV News has seen letters from a number of authorities to the Local Government Secretary, warning that the total cost could be more than £100 million and that this is too much for councils to pay on their own.
ITV News' findings have revealed there is a growing row over who will pay to make tower blocks across the country safe - with some council leaders claiming the Government is failing to meet its promises.
At a time when councils are going through financial cutbacks, new figures, show the cost of implementing fire safety improvements could be huge.
Councils estimate high cost of improving fire safety in tower blocks
Southwark Council told ITV News they estimate alterations will cost them £100 million, because they are in the unique position of being one of the largest social landlords in London.
Sheffield said: "We estimate it will cost in the region of £5million to replace the cladding, however the cost will depend on the design solution agreed. We are lobbying Government for extra funding."
Plymouth stated: "We are still calculating the cost of the full programme of works, but we estimate that it is likely to be in the region of between £9m to £12m."
Salford Housing "estimate tens of millions" to remove cladding from nine of their tower blocks
Barnet Council said it was "committed to investing an initial £10 million to deliver enhanced safety measures in all of the 24 tower blocks managed by Barnet Homes on behalf of Barnet Council."
In a statement Barnet council said: "As well as cladding systems, this will also include consideration of sprinkler systems, ventilation systems and improved fire and smoke alarms. Emergency lighting will form part of this comprehensive fire safety review. Each block will be individually assessed, and recommendations made."
Lambeth stated: "The estimated costs of all work associated with post-Grenfell fire safety work (including cladding sampling, cladding removal at Southwyck House, the FRA-4 programme and associated fire safety works so far) is around £2m.
"This does not include any costs for works that may come out of our FRA-4s that are ongoing. We will be making further representations to government to help us meet these costs."
Croydon Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for housing, Alison Butler, said the council had already asked the government for a contribution towards the estimated £10m cost it is facing.
She said: “Starting this October we’re installing fire sprinklers for residents in our 25 tallest tower blocks, and we’ve written asking the Government for a contribution towards this estimated £10m cost. So far, all ministers have given us back are vague words of encouragement, so I hope this follow-up letter will get them to put their money where their mouth is.”
BRENT council has estimated the cost to them is in the region of £10 million
What happens next?
In June, Central government had promised to work with local authorities and "put a financial package in place" to help with the cost of carrying out improvement works on tower blocks which had failed fire safety tests on their cladding.
ITV News put that promise to the Government once again.
A DCLG spokesman said: "We’ve been clear with councils and housing associations that we expect them to do whatever local fire services and experts say is necessary to make residential buildings safe.
"A number of councils have contacted the department about support to carry out this work. We have responded to these letters and will consider on a case-by-case basis what assistance may be required."
But, ITV News has also seen a letter the communities secretary wrote to chief executives of councils and housing associations, which was sent last week, outlining the government’s position on whether it will pay for safety measures which suggests it could be down to councils to foot the bill.
It read:
Mr Javid did invite councils to "approach us as soon as possible to discuss their position" if they had concerns about "funding essential fire safety measures" but councils are still worried about how they will pay the bill.
In response to this, ITV News has also seen a letter sent from Croydon council to Sajid Javid, sent only last night, again urging him to help them with retrofitting sprinkler systems into their blocks.
Concerns over the safety of tower blocks and who would be responsible for improving their safety came to light in the wake of the Grenfell Tower block fire in London which claimed the lives of more than 80 people.
Testing was rolled out in the wake of the fatal blaze at the recommendation of an independent expert safety panel which found the tower's cladding system, which uses aluminium composite material (ACM) panels with a polyethylene filler and stone wool insulation "does not meet current building regulation guidance".