Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Planning and Housing, Mark Isherwood MS, has raised concerns in the Senedd Chamber that while the Labour Welsh Government claims progress is being made on building safety reforms, delays and gaps persist in protecting Welsh residents.
Responding to the Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government on Building Safety in yesterday’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood stressed that following the Grenfell Tower disaster, there was a clear and urgent need to reflect on arrangements for building safety in Wales and across the United Kingdom, and to establish whether the building safety sector is meeting its purpose. However, he is concerned that reforms are not happening quickly enough in Wales.
He said:
“The UK Government’s response to the Hackitt Inquiry was contained in the Building Safety Act 2022. Part 3 of the Act also applies to Wales.
“This includes:
▪ Allowing Welsh Ministers to define a higher-risk building;
▪ Requiring councils in Wales to carry our work on higher-risk building;
▪ And requiring the registration of building control staff.
“The principle difference between England and Wales is the role of a new Building Safety Regulator, which will be carried out by Local Authorities in Wales.
“However, the Auditor General for Wales’ Report on Building Safety in Wales last year stated that: ‘Responsible bodies – particularly local authorities and fire and rescue – are unable to effectively discharge their responsibilities and ensure buildings in Wales are safe’
“So what action are you taking with Local Authorities to address the concerns expressed by the Auditor General about the ‘absence of robust plans, clear decision making, and adequate resources’, so that they can ensure buildings in Wales are safe?”
Mr Isherwood also questioned the Cabinet Secretary over the timelines for the second phase of the new building control regime in Wales, and the consultation regarding the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.
He also asked how she will ensure that the Building Safety (Wales) Bill, scheduled to be introduced in 2025, “which will presumably mean there are different Building regulations between Wales and England”, won’t disincentivise developers and builders from building in Wales, “especially given the Chartered Institute of Builders recent report which found that “some Welsh companies prefer to seek work across the border due to bureaucratic red tape while new policy and legislation is not filtering down to smaller construction companies”.
He said:
“The Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, which I Chair, published its “Building Safety in Wales” Report in August. We heard about the workforce and service planning issues that face the industry, that require further intervention and investment.
“It is vitally important that more is done to ensure that the industry remains an attractive place to work and attracts new candidates who can be the future of the sector.
“We believe that intervention from central government is necessary to effect positive change in this area, and the Committee feels the Welsh Government could quickly have a positive impact.”
Mr Isherwood also questioned the Cabinet Secretary over timelines for the development of a National Building Safety Workforce Plan, and asked when the Committee’s recommendation, which the Welsh Government accepted, that “it should work with stakeholders in the building control sector to implement a nationwide scheme for the recruitment of trainees and apprentices”, will be implemented.