A deadline needs to be set for the completion of repairs to dangerous cladding on apartment blocks to speed up the process, according to the National Audit Office.
Almost two-thirds of between 9-12,000 buildings that need dangerous cladding removed have yet to be identified with many residents having no idea when their buildings will be rendered safe.
Five programmes aimed at tackling the problem were consolidated last year to speed up the remediation, but the NAO wants a deadline to expedite the work further.
At the current pace, it could be 2035 before the work is completed said the NAO and even longer if government housebuilding plans affect schedules.
“Seven years on from the Grenfell Tower fire, there has been progress, but considerable uncertainty remains regarding the number of buildings needing remediation, costs, timelines and recouping public spending,” said Gareth Davies, NAO’s head.
“There is a long way to go before all affected buildings are made safe, and risks MHCLG must address if its approach is to succeed.”
NAO estimates it will cost £16.6bn in total to fix unsafe cladding on all buildings over 11 metres high in England with the government to provide £9.1bn and the rest by developers, adding that this approach too has hampered progress.
“Putting the onus on developers to pay and introducing a more proportionate approach to remediation should help to protect taxpayers’ money. Yet it has also created grounds for dispute, causing delays,” Davies added.