High-rise safety regulation after Grenfell: supporting resident engagement in the legislative process

Dr Stuart Hodkinson, School of Earth & Environment

Rapid Action Fund

In its ongoing response to the Grenfell Tower disaster, the UK government has issued draft legislation that would create a new regulatory system governing high-rise building safety in England with a deadline of 12 October 2020 for responses. Positive proposals to put residents at the heart of the new system contrast with more concerning proposals to limit the scope of the new regulatory system to buildings above 18 metres, to pass down financial costs to leaseholders, and to continue to deny residents the ability to safely evacuate unaided from a building on fire.

Building on a previous IAA project, the aim of this project is to enable high-rise residents’ groups to properly scrutinise and inform the government’s proposals based on their vital lived experience. Partnering with key stakeholders – Grenfell United, Tower Blocks UK, London Tenants Federation, Tenants Union UK and Manchester Sustainable Communities – the project will bring together high-rise residents with other experts in a series of online educational events. A resident-focused briefing paper will be produced on the proposals with guidance on how to respond to the consultation before the deadline, and the views of residents will be presented in a report to government.

Dr Stuart Hodkinson can be contacted by email: s.n.hodkinson@leeds.ac.uk