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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/sep/20/student-buildings-still-covered-in-grenfell-style-cladding
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| Student buildings still covered in Grenfell-style cladding | Student buildings still covered in Grenfell-style cladding |
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| Thousands of students arriving at university for freshers’ week face sleeping in high-rise accommodation wrapped in combustible Grenfell-style cladding, the government has admitted. | Thousands of students arriving at university for freshers’ week face sleeping in high-rise accommodation wrapped in combustible Grenfell-style cladding, the government has admitted. |
| Fifty-four privately owned student residential towers in England remain clad in aluminium composite material similar to that which helped spread the fire at Grenfell Tower 15 months ago, claiming 72 lives. The extent of the problem was revealed in figures released by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on Thursday. | |
| Only eight of the 62 student towers rising over 18 metres and using material that officials said breached building regulations have so far been completely fixed, according to the data. Remediation plans are unclear for 23 of the towers, officials said. | Only eight of the 62 student towers rising over 18 metres and using material that officials said breached building regulations have so far been completely fixed, according to the data. Remediation plans are unclear for 23 of the towers, officials said. |
| Hundreds of students live in each tower, many of which were built with funding from international investors. But the government has refused to make public which towers are affected. It has declined a request by the Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act to say where any of the 468 high-rise buildings in England with failed cladding are. It admitted there was “public interest in transparency with respect to buildings’ safety” but said that disclosing the information could endanger the mental and physical health of people living in the buildings and could compromise their safety. It would only say roughly how many affected buildings there were in each local authority area. | Hundreds of students live in each tower, many of which were built with funding from international investors. But the government has refused to make public which towers are affected. It has declined a request by the Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act to say where any of the 468 high-rise buildings in England with failed cladding are. It admitted there was “public interest in transparency with respect to buildings’ safety” but said that disclosing the information could endanger the mental and physical health of people living in the buildings and could compromise their safety. It would only say roughly how many affected buildings there were in each local authority area. |
| The officials claimed that residents in affected buildings have been notified and so the public interest in occupiers knowing has been addressed. Some councils have taken a different position and published the names and addresses of affected buildings. Observers have argued that visitors to buildings, including delivery couriers and workmen, also have a right to know. | The officials claimed that residents in affected buildings have been notified and so the public interest in occupiers knowing has been addressed. Some councils have taken a different position and published the names and addresses of affected buildings. Observers have argued that visitors to buildings, including delivery couriers and workmen, also have a right to know. |
| The Office for Students, the higher education regulator, called of urgent checks of the halls of residence. | |
| “We would hope that the local fire authority and the Health and Safety Executive checks these blocks urgently to reassure students of their safety,” said the chief executive, Nicola Dandridge. | |
| In March, students living in an affected block in Nottingham told the Guardian they did not know the panels on the outside of their block were flammable. | In March, students living in an affected block in Nottingham told the Guardian they did not know the panels on the outside of their block were flammable. |
| Elizabeth Hess, the managing director of Kaplan, which operates the 14-storey Global Point student block in Nottingham, said it is including a letter in welcome packs for new residents explaining what the building is clad with and that it is to be removed in stages. Sprinklers have already been installed, she added. | Elizabeth Hess, the managing director of Kaplan, which operates the 14-storey Global Point student block in Nottingham, said it is including a letter in welcome packs for new residents explaining what the building is clad with and that it is to be removed in stages. Sprinklers have already been installed, she added. |
| The government has also revealed for the first time that 28 high-rise hotels are among 295 private sector buildings which will have to remove the cladding, but again it would not say where they were. None of the affected hotels have had the cladding removed or have even started remediation works, according to the figures. | The government has also revealed for the first time that 28 high-rise hotels are among 295 private sector buildings which will have to remove the cladding, but again it would not say where they were. None of the affected hotels have had the cladding removed or have even started remediation works, according to the figures. |
| Of 205 blocks of private flats across England with combustible cladding, only two have been completely fixed. Remediation plans are unclear in 86 cases. | Of 205 blocks of private flats across England with combustible cladding, only two have been completely fixed. Remediation plans are unclear in 86 cases. |
| Ministers have warned private building owners they could face government intervention if they did not act. So far, Barratt Homes, Legal and General, Taylor Wimpey and Mace have agreed they would pay to remove and replace cladding on affected buildings. Other developers are contesting property tribunal claims from leaseholders who are facing bills of tens of thousands of pounds each to fix the panels. | Ministers have warned private building owners they could face government intervention if they did not act. So far, Barratt Homes, Legal and General, Taylor Wimpey and Mace have agreed they would pay to remove and replace cladding on affected buildings. Other developers are contesting property tribunal claims from leaseholders who are facing bills of tens of thousands of pounds each to fix the panels. |
| Of 159 social housing blocks that have cladding that failed fire tests in the wake of the Grenfell disaster, 15% have been fixed, and 62% are under way. There are no plans for the remaining 38 buildings. | Of 159 social housing blocks that have cladding that failed fire tests in the wake of the Grenfell disaster, 15% have been fixed, and 62% are under way. There are no plans for the remaining 38 buildings. |
| A spokesman for the housing ministry said: “There is nothing more important than ensuring people are safe. Details of every building with unsafe ACM [aluminium composite material] cladding are given to the relevant local authority and fire and rescue service so that checks and visits can be undertaken to ensure residents are safe. Building owners are responsible for ensuring residents are properly made aware of fire safety procedures.” | A spokesman for the housing ministry said: “There is nothing more important than ensuring people are safe. Details of every building with unsafe ACM [aluminium composite material] cladding are given to the relevant local authority and fire and rescue service so that checks and visits can be undertaken to ensure residents are safe. Building owners are responsible for ensuring residents are properly made aware of fire safety procedures.” |
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