From Monday 8th April, Homes England will launch the 'Building Remediation Hub' (the Hub), an online platform to apply for funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to replace unsafe cladding on buildings exceeding 11 meters in height.
By utilising the Hub, applicants can expect a smoother journey in securing funding, with the previous Building Safety Fund application form on Citizen Space no longer accepting submissions once the Hub goes live, with any unsubmitted information being lost. To further enhance safety measures, new applications to the Building Safety Fund via the Hub will now require a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW). To submit a successful application, your FRAEW should be completed by a Homes England panel member. As Pennington Choices is a certified panel member, we can provide your FRAEW which will ensure a successful application to secure funding and keep your buildings safe.
Individuals eligible for the funding include Responsible Entities or their authorised representatives, as well as registered providers of social housing who have taken all reasonable steps to address fire risks associated with cladding costs. Buildings must exceed 11 meters in height and have unsafe cladding on an external wall to qualify for funding, with exceptions made for social sector landlords applying via the financial viability route.
< Read more about the Building Safety Fund guidance for new applications 2022 >
< Read more the Cladding Safety Scheme >
New applications to the Building Safety Fund via the Building Remediation Hub will require a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW) undertaken by a Homes England panel member.
As a Homes England Panel Member, Pennington Choices' team of experienced Fire Risk Assessors are RICS accredited, carry out FRAEW surveys nationwide, and are a Homes England panel member. During this survey, your building will have its fire performance, facade configurations, fire strategy, hazards, and fire service assessed and analysed.
You will then be provided with an FRAEW assessment report, an initial risk rating as defined in PAS9980, and an EWS1 form, which reflects the findings of the PAS9980 report. You will need to have these for your submission to the Building Safety Fund.