Final Hackitt Report Published

The final Hackitt Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety report, Building a Safer Future, was published last week. It recommends a new regulatory framework for building safety to address identified weaknesses in the system.

Dame Judith is clear that the current system is not fit for purpose. The report says that a cultural change in the construction industry is essential to support the delivery of buildings that are safe.

In response, new housing secretary James Brokenshire has announced a government consultation on banning combustible cladding in response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s final report on building safety. Speaking in the House of Commons, Brokenshire said: “we will work with the industry to make the wider suite of Building Regulations Guidance more user-friendly”.

RIBA, and others in industry, had called for an outright ban in high-rise combustible cladding. They claim the Hackitt review is a “major missed opportunity” which leaves the construction industry and communities in confusion.