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Rayner announces new cladding remediation action plan along with social housing and devolution plans

Rayner announces new cladding remediation action plan along with social housing and devolution plans

The Labour government will bring forward a new “remediation action plan” for cladding in the autumn, according to the deputy Prime Minister.

Speaking at the Labour conference in Liverpool, Angela Rayner (pictured), said it was “completely unacceptable that we have thousands of buildings still wrapped in unsafe cladding seven years after Grenfell”.

She said the new cladding “remediation action plan” would “speed up the process and we’ll pursue those responsible – without fear or favour”.

“This must lead to new, safer social housing for the future,” Rayner added.

 

Labour will ‘reverse the tide’ on social housing

She said that the government would “reverse the tide” of social housing decline, aiming to “build more social homes than we lose” in the first financial year of this Labour government.

Rayner said that the government would “clamp down on damp and mouldy homes” by bringing in Awaab’s Law in the social rented sector in the autumn and would extend it to cover the private rented sector (PRS) as well.

She added that the government would consult and implement a new Decent Homes Standard for social and privately rented homes to “end the scandal of homes being unfit to live in”.

“We will also ensure social housing staff have the right skills and experience. And I will ensure 2.5 million housing association tenants in this country can hold their landlord to account for their high-quality services and homes, so that repairs and complaints are handled faster, but more importantly, so social housing tenants are treated fairly,” Rayner said.

 

Mayors will have more ‘powers’ on housebuilding and planning

Rayner said that Labour would give mayors more “powers” on housebuilding and planning as well as transport and skills.

This will include a white paper to “map out how we will move power out of Whitehall” and the creation of two investment zones; one for advanced manufacturing in the West Midlands and one for life sciences in West Yorkshire.

She said that the government would continue the “devolution revolution” and would “complete devolution in the North”.

 

Planning framework, Renters’ Rights Bill, leasehold reform and homelessness task force reiterated

Rayner said that the Labour government was “tackling the Tories’ housing emergency” and it would “get Britain building and building decent homes for working people”.

She pointed to the new planning framework that would “unlock the door to affordable homes and provide the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation”, along with its Renters’ Rights Bill.

Rayner said that there was also a “long-term plan [that] will free leaseholders from the tyranny of a medieval system”, along with a “cross-government task force” to end homelessness.

“Whether you’re a leaseholder, a tenant, a homebuyer or without somewhere to live – this government is on your side. But my mission is not just to build houses, it is to build homes.

“Because we cannot build at any cost. These new homes must be warm, secure and most importantly safe. We will give families the security they need to have the best start in life,” she said.