You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
The Northern Ireland government has launched a consultation on building safety to help develop new policy.
The Department for Communities (DfC) is seeking the views of those involved in the commissioning, design, construction, maintenance and management of high-rise residential buildings (HRRBs).
The findings will feed into new policy and legislation aiming to improve the safety of high-rise blocks.
The department’s residential building safety team is leading on the work.
Its work follows the findings of the Hackitt Review, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, and the recommendations made by an expert panel on the HRRB safety system in Northern Ireland.
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s 1,571-page Phase 2 report made 59 recommendations, many of which focused on the construction industry, which if enacted would bring sweeping change to the built environment.
In 2021, the Department of Finance commissioned an expert panel to investigate the safety of high-rise residential buildings in Northern Ireland.
The report, which was published on 7 December 2023, identified a number of issues with the current system, and presented a series of recommendations to help address these issues.
The final Hackitt Review, led by Dame Judith Hackitt, made 50 recommendations for improving building safety.
Derek Kennedy, director of residential building safety, said: “The building safety system in Northern Ireland is highly complex and involves a great number of stakeholders across the private and public sectors.
“It is essential that we work closely with all those in the industry to co-design optimal solutions for the region.”
The DfC said that anyone in the public sector who wants to help the department shape new policy is encouraged to take part in an upcoming session on 21 January.
There will be a separate session on 23 January for industry representatives.
Already have an account? Click here to manage your newsletters