Propertymark has responded to the Welsh government’s consultation on combustible cladding and fire safety amendments, which come in response to the 2017 Grenfell Tower Inquiry, calling for more to be done to protect residents.

Amendments were made to building regulations following a consultation that began in 2018 on stopping the use of combustible materials in the external walls of high-rise residential buildings, which the Welsh government’s latest consultation on building and fire safety builds upon.

This consultation concerns the changes implemented via the first consultation, which impacted buildings that were approximately 18 metres in height, but hostels, hotels and boarding houses were left out.

The new proposals consider a variety of new materials to be covered by the ban, expanding the types of buildings covered.

Buildings between 11 and 18 metres in height will now be included.

Propertymark is supportive of the measures being suggested in the consultation, but the trade body also urges the Welsh government to cut the number of fire safety risks to residents by adopting the following measures:

+ Existing flats must be covered by the proposals alongside new ones. Ways of doing this include adding wayfinding signage, Secure Information Boxes, and evacuation alert systems to existing ‘high-risk’ buildings.

+ High-risk buildings excluded from the current proposals should be included as there are many buildings below 11 metres that can be deemed a high risk.

Henry Griffith, policy and campaigns officer at Propertymark, said: “In the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower Fire, it has been clear to Propertymark that new regulations have been necessary to help prevent further loss of life and improve the safety of high-risk buildings. It is therefore positive to see that the Welsh government is considering expanding the number of properties that will be covered by new building safety requirements. However, while this is a positive step, it vitally important that all flats and other high-risk buildings are covered by the new proposals introduced by the Welsh government not just new properties.”