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Welsh Government – Building Safety: Updated Position Statement

September 2020

On 3rd September, the Welsh Government (WG) updated its position statement on Building safety. The updated statement outlines the Welsh Government’s commitment to delivering reforms that offer greater protection to people living in high rise buildings in Wales.

The statement outlines the reforms the Welsh Government intends to consult upon and flags to the sector its expectations in this regard. These reforms build on the work set out by Welsh Government’s Building Safety Expert Group in their report ‘Road Map to Safer Buildings in Wales’.

The remit of the WG Group was to identify the parameters of a Welsh response to the issues raised by Dame Judith Hackitt’s ‘Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety’ (the ‘Hackitt Review’).

The Welsh Government intends to publish a White Paper by the end of this Assembly Year. The White Paper will set out the full scope of the Welsh Government’s programme of reform across all aspects of the building lifecycle. It will make clear where the WG is joining with the UK Government and where it intends to set out a different programme of reform for Wales.

Ahead of its publication, the Welsh Government is seeking specific input on the following two questions:

  1. Is high rise residential buildings of 18m or more (or more than six storeys) in height the right scope for the Building Safety Regime? Should we consider including a wider range of buildings within the scope of the Building Safety Regime, for example 11m or more (or more than four storeys) in height? If so what buildings would you suggest being included? What is your evidence in proposing this?
  2. What do you consider to be the most appropriate way of regulating the new Building Safety Regime – A single regulator, or multiple regulators? What is your rationale for this?

If you would like to join in the conversation about these issues please email (buildingsafety@gov.wales) or write (Building Safety Team, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3AQ) to us with your thoughts. Responses will need to be submitted by 3pm Wednesday 30th September 2020 to the above email address.

LEASE is governed by a board, appointed as individuals by the Secretary of State for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities.