Cladding Remediation Programme funding: EIR release

Information requested

The SNP government was allocated approximately 98 million pounds from Westminster to replace all dangerous cladding on Scotland's high rise flats after the devastating scenes at Grenfell.

Can you explain why to date only 1% or two buildings have been completed and I have now been told there is no monies available for the remainder to be replaced?

Why are the monies unavailable?

Who will be responsible should a disaster occur and loss of life occur in any of these dangerous cladded buildings?

Who made the decision to spend the allocated cladding money elsewhere and why?

Response

As the information you have requested is ‘environmental information’ for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

1. The SNP Government was allocated approximately £98 million from Westminster to replace all dangerous cladding on Scotland’s high-rise flats after the devastating scenes at Grenfell.

The Scottish Government has received £97.1 million in consequential funding in relation to cladding. This funding is being used to support a national cladding remediation programme designed to ensure that life safety risks associated with external wall systems are identified and addressed appropriately.

Rather than a blanket replacement approach, Scotland’s model uses Single Building Assessments (SBAs). These are whole-building, multi-disciplinary reviews which identify whether unsafe cladding or other fire risks exist and what remediation is necessary, if any. This ensures that public money is directed where it is needed most, based on evidence rather than assumptions.

This approach reflects Scotland’s distinct regulatory framework and housing landscape, and has been developed in consultation with fire safety experts, local authorities, and residents.

2. Can you explain why, to date, only 1% or two buildings have been completed and I have now been told there is no monies available for the remainder to be replaced?

It is not accurate to state that only 1% of buildings have been completed or that there is no money available. The programme is being delivered in phases, beginning with the commissioning of SBAs to establish risk and determine whether remediation is required.

A number of buildings have now completed assessments, implemented interim safety measures, or moved into procurement and construction. While only a small number have completed all remediation works to date, a significant number are progressing through the pipeline.

There is still funding available for eligible buildings where remediation is required to address life safety concerns, based on the outcome of an SBA. Funding decisions are made on a case-by-case basis once robust evidence is available.

3. Why are the monies unavailable?

Funding for cladding remediation in Scotland has not been withdrawn or made unavailable. However, it is important to note that public funding is not guaranteed for every building. Instead, the Scottish Government operates a targeted, evidence-based approach through the Single Building Assessment (SBA) programme, which ensures that funding is directed where there is a confirmed life-safety risk and no developer or other responsible party available to undertake the necessary works.

On 25 March 2025 We launched a new opportunity for residential property owners or their representatives to notify us of their concerns about cladding in their properties, and (subject to the height and age of their property) to apply for government funding for a statutory Single Building Assessment (‘SBA’).

This offer is open both to individual private owners and local authorities and Registered Social Landlords. To receive funding, owner(s) will be required to apply through a properly constituted body such as a factor.

Where a developer has accepted responsibility for the assessment and remediation of a property, it will remain for that developer to take forward and fund that work.

We have made an initial £10 m available to fund assessments through the Single Open Call. In the first instance, this offer will be available until 30 September 2025, or until funding is fully committed. We will keep the number of applications under review and may run further rounds of the open call process.

You can read further information on this Single Open Call, including how to submit your expression of interest, on the mygov website.

4. Who will be responsible should a disaster occur and loss of life occur in any of these dangerous cladded buildings?

The legal duty to ensure a building is safe lies with the responsible person, typically the building owner, developer, or property manager under Scottish building and fire safety legislation.

The Scottish Government provides support via the SBA programme and, where appropriate, public funding for essential remediation. However, this does not transfer legal responsibility for fire safety or building management to the Government.

Interim safety measures are in place at buildings with identified risks, and residents are kept informed throughout the process. Building owners are expected to act on fire risk assessment findings and maintain compliance with all relevant safety requirements.

5. Who made the decision to spend the allocated cladding money elsewhere and why?

The cladding remediation funding has not been diverted elsewhere. All funds received have been allocated to the national programme and are being used to support the assessment and remediation of high-risk buildings.

Budgetary decisions are taken in accordance with Scottish Government governance procedures and spending is tied to programme progress. Where appropriate, funding is used to commission assessments, support interim safety measures, and enable remediation where required to address life safety risks.

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