Building Safety Programme

Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the government established the Building Safety Programme to make sure that Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding is removed from high rise buildings across the country to ensure the safety of residents.

As part of this programme, building owners and tenants must take steps to make sure their properties are safe.

This type of cladding has been identified on some private residential buildings in Liverpool and the council has been working closely with the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) and building owners to put interim measures in place whilst remediation work to replace the dangerous ACM cladding is planned and undertaken through to completion.

Immediate safety of residents

Immediate safety of residents is our utmost priority, and we have been working closely with MFRS and building owners to make sure that all buildings are safe.

MFRS and Liverpool City Council Private Sector Housing Enforcement officers (LCC PSH) have inspected all high-rise buildings in Liverpool with ACM cladding to ensure that satisfactory interim measures are in place.

Meeting government regulations

MFRS are responsible for enforcing the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which relates to the common parts of a building.

MFRS seek to ensure that the building owner has undertaken an adequate fire risk assessment which has the necessary risk reduction actions taken, for example a fire alarm.

LCC PSH is responsible for the enforcement for residential buildings, including interior of dwellings and building cladding, under the Housing Act 2004.

What funds are available?

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced in May 2019 that a fund of approximately £200m will be made available to remove and replace unsafe ACM cladding on privately owned buildings across the country.

We would encourage all affected property owners to apply for a share of this money. Find out more about this fund on GOV.UK.

What support is being offered?

The council will work with residents and property owners to ensure they get the support and advice they need to help them remove cladding and comply with all regulations. If you would like advice on your building, please email buildingsafety​.programme​@liverpool.gov.uk.

Complete the survey

The government has asked the council to carry out a survey of external walls on all residential buildings of 18m and higher. This focuses on social residential buildings, private residential buildings, student accommodation buildings and hotels.

If you are an owner or appointed property manager and we have written to you to complete a questionnaire. Please complete this as soon as possible and return it via email to buildingsafety​.programme​@liverpool.gov.uk.

• Download the External Wall System MHCLG Questionnaire
• External Wall System technical note
• Approved Document b, Diagram D6 – building height guidance
• Approved Document b, volume 2

Building safety fund for non-ACM buildings requiring remediation

The government announced a £1 billion building safety fund for unsafe non-ACM cladding, on residential buildings of 18m and over that do not comply with building regulations.

Read further guidance on the fund and application process on GOV.UK

Contact us

For help, advice and to request a document in an alternative format please email buildingsafety​.programme​@liverpool.gov.uk.

Apply for the Waking Watch Replacement Fund

On 10th January 2022 the government announced a further £27m to fund the installation of alarms and replace costly Waking Watch measures in all buildings in England where a Waking Watch is currently in place at cost to leaseholders.

The fund builds on the £35 million Waking Watch Relief Fund (WWRF) which was focused on high-rise residential buildings above 17.7 metres with unsafe cladding. The new £27 million fund extends financial support to more buildings and is aligned with guidance published by the National Fire Chief’s Council (NFCC) on buildings that change from a ‘Stay Put’ to a ‘Simultaneous Evacuation’ fire safety strategy.

Almost £6 million of the £27 million additional funding has been allocated to 5 metropolitan areas. The fund will be administered by the following authorities/regions to private sector buildings located in their area: Birmingham, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield. The remaining funding will be administered centrally by DLUHC to eligible private sector buildings in all other areas and to eligible buildings in the social sector.

View further information and guidance on how to apply on GOV.UK 

For queries about the fund for the Liverpool City Council area, please email wakingwatchfund@liverpool.gov.uk.