Cladding Remediation Programme update: Letter to Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

From: Mairi McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Housing

To: Ariane Burgess, Convener, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

Dear Ariane,

Progress of Cladding Remediation Programme

I am writing to provide the Committee with an update on progress with the Cladding Remediation Programme in Scotland. On appointment to my role as Cabinet Secretary for Housing in summer 2025, I wrote to the Committee setting out my intention to accelerate the process of assessment, mitigation and remediation of buildings affected by unsafe cladding – building on the solid foundations of the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act 2024 and the statutory Single Building Assessment standards which had come into force earlier that year. The “Cladding Remediation Programme: Next Phase Plan of Action”, published in August 2025, set out in more detail how this would be achieved. In particular, I have been very clear that developers and building owners, whether Local Authorities, Registered Social Landlords or private owners, must all play their part in making sure building assessments, mitigation measures and remediation works take place urgently. The programme is continuing to support those responsible, while ensuring that appropriate action is being taken in respect of every building within the scope of the programme. I invited relevant developers to sign the Developer Remediation Contract in October 2025, and published the final Developer Remediation Contract on 21 November 2025. This seeks to secure a legally binding commitment from developers, clarifying their obligations to assess and remediate buildings for which they have accepted responsibility. Negotiations and engagement have continued since, and I held a final round table with developers on 16 March 2026.

I am pleased to say that Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, Barratt Redrow and Springfield have all signed the contract while Miller, Cala and Bellway have confirmed to me in writing that they are in the process of signing. Springfield Homes and Lovell Partnerships have confirmed they have no buildings within the scope of the contract. Another developer has confirmed that they will recommend signature when their board meets on 30 March. In relation to buildings which will not be covered by the Developer Remediation Contract, it is vital that owners exercise their responsibilities for the safety of their buildings – making use of the generous financial support being offered by the Scottish Government. Last year the ‘Single Open Call’ was launched, marking a step-change in the scale and scope of programme activity. Stage One of the Single Open Call invites building owners to apply for Scottish Government financial support to meet the full costs of a Single Building Assessment (SBA) meeting the new statutory standards. In August I launched Stage Two of the scheme, under which owners or their representatives can apply for financial support for to carry out mitigation and/or essential cladding remediation works which have been found to be required by an SBA. I am pleased to note that, as at 31 January 2026, a total of 920 Expressions of Interest received via the Single Open Call had been identified as likely to be eligible for Scottish Government funding for an SBA. We are now moving swiftly to put this funding in place: Scottish Government funding has been provided or confirmed for nearly 500 of these buildings, with more to come. This represents a major acceleration in the pace and reach of the Cladding Remediation Programme. In relation to social housing, £22.1 million has been issued to 13 Local Authorities supporting the commissioning of SBAs. A further £9.3 million was transferred in March through a General Capital Grant payment specifically to fund the installation of fire alarm systems and other critical safety mitigations in buildings within scope of the programme. Taken together, this brings the total funding provided to Local Authorities in support of the programme to £31.4 million. To support the social housing sector in addressing cladding-related fire safety risks across Scotland, a ‘Social Housing Cladding Oversight Assurance’ group has been introduced, providing a strategic forum for monitoring and assuring progress. Further measures are also being taken to continue to prompt and support action by private building owners. Officials are progressing work to support the factors of these buildings in taking forward SBAs on behalf of homeowners. Subject to financial assurance checks, funding can also be made available to support the installation or upgrade of interlinked fire alarm systems in private, multi-owner buildings with cladding, where a need is identified at any stage during the SBA process. With the principal objective of mitigating or eliminating life-safety risks, engagement has also continued with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to align operational messaging around interim safety measures, ‘Waking Watches’, fire alarm upgrades and risk-based prioritisation. I previously updated the committee that monthly data and information reporting was introduced to increase transparency and allow a wide range of interested partners to see progress. The latest monthly release of management information on the progress of the Cladding Remediation Programme in Scotland was published on Tuesday 17 March 2026, reporting on progress up to 31 January 2026.

In summary, the past year has seen a step-change in the scale and scope of the Cladding Remediation Programme – with assessment in train or with funding confirmed for a very substantial number of affected buildings across Scotland, and with a further number of buildings having been identified and now on a pathway to having assessments carried out. This represents very significant progress for the programme in its first year of delivery. Members will recall that in August I set the ambitious but necessary target that by 2029 every high-risk residential building over 18 metres in Scotland will have been resolved — whether made safe, decommissioned or replaced — and every building between 11 and 18 metres will be on a defined pathway to resolution — supported by robust assessment, planning and funding for essential cladding remediation. In pursuit of this target, all parties must continue to build on the progress achieved in the past year, by taking urgent action to secure the assessment and remediation of buildings affected by unsafe cladding. The Scottish Government will continue to support these efforts, backed with substantial financial assistance. With the close relationship with the Cladding Remediation Programme, I am mindful that the Committee will have equal interest in the progress on implementing the recommendations which formed part of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase Two Report. I have provided a separate update to the Committee detailing progress made since publication of our response to the Grenfell Phase Two Report, which was published in March 2025. I trust this update on progress with the Cladding Remediation Programme has been helpful and as Parliament dissolves for the Scottish Parliament elections, I take the opportunity to explicitly restate the Scottish Government’s determined commitment to action and to public safety.

Yours sincerely,

MÀIRI MCALLAN