Warning: Flammable Cladding in 300 Scottish Buildings – Scottish Grenfell Alert
Housing campaigners in Scotland are sounding the alarm, warning of the potential for a “Scottish Grenfell” disaster if immediate action is not taken to remove flammable cladding from more than 300 buildings across the country. The urgency comes in the aftermath of a devastating tower block fire in Dagenham, east London, where the building was engulfed in flames due to the use of “non-compliant” High Pressure Laminate (HPL) cladding.
Scottish Government figures reveal that a total of 95 tower blocks, 253 schools, five hospitals, and seven care homes in Scotland are currently identified as having HPL cladding that needs to be removed. Despite these concerning numbers, Sean Clerkin of the Scottish Tenants Organisation has expressed frustration, stating that “nothing has changed” regarding the cladding issue, which he describes as a “disaster waiting to happen.”
The urgency to address the issue of flammable cladding is underscored by recent events in Dagenham, where over 200 firefighters responded to a massive inferno that engulfed a block of flats. While the evacuation efforts successfully removed around 100 individuals from the building, two people were hospitalized as a result of the fire. Fire officials have highlighted the combustible nature of the building’s HPL cladding as a critical factor in their investigation into the cause of the blaze.
Seven years after the tragic Grenfell Tower fire claimed 72 lives, the specter of unsafe cladding continues to loom over buildings in Scotland. With 95 tower blocks, 244 schools, nine independent schools, and numerous other structures wrapped in HPL materials, the risk of a similar catastrophe in Scotland remains a looming threat. Regrettably, a report earlier this year revealed that only one building out of the 105 included in the Scottish Government’s cladding remediation pilot scheme has undergone any remediation works.
Lack of Progress in Scotland
Despite progress in England, where efforts to remove HPL cladding from high-risk buildings have seen significant strides, Scotland lags behind in addressing the issue. Sean Clerkin points out that while England has made strides in removing HPL cladding from tower blocks, Scotland has yet to see any tangible action taken in that direction. With over 393 buildings in Scotland identified as having flammable cladding, urgent intervention is needed to mitigate the risk of a potential disaster.
One of the few success stories in Scotland’s cladding remediation efforts is the Aurora Apartments tower block in Ferryhill, Aberdeen, which recently became the first building in Scotland to have all dangerous cladding removed. This milestone, achieved seven years after the Grenfell tragedy, serves as a stark reminder of the slow progress in addressing the issue of combustible cladding in the country.
Government Response and Funding
Criticism has been directed towards Scottish ministers for their handling of the cladding crisis, with concerns raised over the slow pace of remediation efforts. Despite receiving £97 million from Westminster as part of a special fund to tackle unsafe cladding, only £9 million has been spent so far. Housing Minister Paul McLennan has emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of homeowners and residents, stating that measures are being taken to assess and remediate buildings with potentially hazardous cladding.
The recently passed Cladding Remediation Act and the publication of the Single Building Assessment technical specification are seen as positive steps towards enhancing building safety in Scotland. These developments are crucial in setting standards for the assessment and remediation of buildings affected by flammable cladding, aiming to safeguard the lives of residents and occupants.
In conclusion, the urgent need to address the issue of flammable cladding in Scottish buildings cannot be overstated. With over 300 structures identified as having HPL cladding that requires removal, the risk of a potential catastrophe looms large. It is imperative that swift and decisive action be taken to mitigate this risk and ensure the safety of residents across the country. Failure to act promptly could result in a tragedy akin to the Grenfell Tower fire, underscoring the critical importance of prioritizing building safety and remediation efforts.