Shadow housing secretary Steve Reeves has pledged to allocate £1 billion towards accelerating the remediation of dangerous cladding on buildings in the UK. The issue of dangerous cladding has been a growing concern since the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017, which claimed the lives of 72 people. Reeves has called for urgent action to address the issue and ensure the safety of residents living in buildings with flammable cladding.

The £1 billion fund would be used to fund the removal and replacement of dangerous cladding on high-rise buildings, as well as support for affected leaseholders. Reeves has criticized the government for not acting quickly enough to address the issue, stating that many leaseholders are still living in unsafe buildings due to the slow pace of remediation work. He has called for a more proactive approach to dealing with the cladding crisis and ensuring that residents are not left in unsafe conditions.

Reeves has also proposed a number of other measures to address the cladding crisis, including the introduction of a new levy on developers to help fund remediation work and building safety improvements. He has called for a tougher approach to holding developers accountable for the use of dangerous cladding materials and ensuring that they take responsibility for the costs of remediation.

In addition to the funding pledge, Reeves has also called for a number of changes to building regulations to prevent similar disasters from occurring in the future. He has called for a ban on the use of combustible materials in high-rise buildings, as well as a requirement for developers to conduct thorough fire safety assessments before construction begins. These measures are aimed at preventing a repeat of the Grenfell tragedy and ensuring the safety of residents in high-rise buildings across the country.

Reeves has urged the government to take urgent action to address the cladding crisis and ensure that residents living in buildings with dangerous cladding are protected. He has called for a more proactive and comprehensive approach to remediation work, as well as stronger regulations to prevent similar disasters from occurring in the future. The £1 billion funding pledge is seen as a step in the right direction towards addressing the cladding crisis and ensuring the safety of residents in high-rise buildings.