Ipswich MP Jack Abbott calls for action on unsafe cladding at Churchmans House

Why it matters: Seven years after the Grenfell Fire tragedy, residents of Churchmans House face uncertainty over who will pay for essential safety work.

The big picture: Abbott has written to Rushanara Ali, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Building Safety and Homelessness, requesting full funding for remedial action at Churchmans House.

The details:

• Leaseholders have submitted planning and funding applications for cladding replacement and internal fire safety work.

• Residents fall into three categories under the Building Safety Act: protected, capped, and non-qualifying.

• The nearby Cardinal Lofts building, constructed by the same developer, was fully evacuated in February 2023 due to safety concerns.

What they're saying: "Those who are responsible for the building safety crisis should be the ones paying to fix it. It should never come down to leaseholders to fork out thousands on legal fees," Abbott said.

What's next: Abbott pledged to work with the government to deliver on building safety and leasehold system reform promises.

Full transcript of Abbott's letter

Dear Rushanara,

I am writing regarding the ongoing building safety crisis at Churchmans House in Ipswich. As you will know, the leaseholders at Churchmans House have submitted a planning application to replace unsafe cladding on the external walls, and a funding application for internal fire safety work.

Currently, the Building Safety Act, passed under the previous government in 2022, categorises leaseholders in three ways; protected, capped, and non-qualifying. It is my understanding that the residents of Churchmans House are split fairly evenly between these three categories.

I am, therefore, writing to encourage the Department to approve full funding for remedial action or, at the very least, guarantee that the cost for what is undoubtedly urgent and necessary remedial action does not fall on the leaseholders. Given there is no solvent developer, it must be ensured that those responsible for the building safety crisis are the ones who pay to fix it.

This issue could be catastrophic for a number of my constituents. Under the previous government, the nearby Cardinal Lofts building - built by the same developer - was partially evacuated in November 2022, and then fully and permanently evacuated in February 2023 because of safety concerns. I know that you will agree that the situation should not be allowed to similarly deteriorate for the residents of Churchmans House.

I am pleased that the government has said it is working on a funding agreement to support remediation works. It is also a welcome contrast from the previous administration that the new Labour government has promised to accelerate remedial works and to improve building safety regulation, so that there is no repeat of this situation in Ipswich or, indeed, anywhere else. It is nothing short of a national scandal that, seven years since the Grenfell Fire tragedy, progress on this potentially life-threatening issue has been so slow and piecemeal.

Here in Ipswich, there have been several clear examples of why we desperately need to push ahead with action and reform to finally tackle the country's building safety crisis. Hundreds of people have been affected in our town alone and we must put an end to this constant uncertainty which puts lives on hold indefinitely.

I look forward to hearing from you with regards to the action the government is planning to take to put an end to the concern that my constituents in Churchmans House are currently experiencing.

Yours sincerely,

Jack Abbott
Member of Parliament for Ipswich