Council working with private property owners to remove Grenfell-style cladding

Grenfell Tower, pictured a few days after the one-year anniversary of the tragedy. Photograph: Carcharoth.

Six privately-owned buildings in Hackney found to have dangerous Grenfell-style cladding have either removed it or have a “clear action plan” to do so, according to the borough’s mayor.

The news comes in the wake of powers announced for local authorities by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government to take action to remove it themselves, and reclaim any costs incurred from unwilling landlords.

According to the Town Hall, of the buildings, all residential, four have completed remediation work to remove the aluminium composite (ACM) cladding, with two still to go.

The removal of the dangerous material has been progressing slowly across the country, with Inside Housing reporting that only three out of 199 residential blocks with the cladding had had it removed in early November, over a year since the Grenfell Tower fire.

Hackney Mayor Philip Glanville said: “Fire safety is our first priority, which is why I commissioned a full review of all council buildings after the Grenfell tragedy last year, leading to extensive investment to improve the safety of council tenants and leaseholders.

“While no council buildings had the type of cladding used at Grenfell, we quickly identified six buildings owned by other organisations that did, and we’ve been working closely with the owners and the government to ensure any necessary action is taken.

“We’re pleased that by working together and responsibly, all of these building owners now have either carried out this work or have a clear action plan in place. We will continue to monitor this and ensure no stone is left unturned to make buildings in Hackney safer.”