Housebuilder Persimmon sets aside £75m to deal with 'unsafe' legacy cladding

Housebuilder Persimmon has set aside £75m to address cladding safety issues in its legacy development portfolio.
Persimmon is a builder of traditional family homes and isn't a major developer of high-rise buildings but has set aside £75m to deal with legacy cladding issues on high-rises it has worked on in the past.Persimmon is a builder of traditional family homes and isn't a major developer of high-rise buildings but has set aside £75m to deal with legacy cladding issues on high-rises it has worked on in the past.
Persimmon is a builder of traditional family homes and isn't a major developer of high-rise buildings but has set aside £75m to deal with legacy cladding issues on high-rises it has worked on in the past.

The York-based business is a builder of traditional family homes and isn't a major developer of high-rise buildings. Persimmon believes it accounts for less than one per cent of all high-rise developments in the UK.

However, in the past the business has built multi-storey buildings which met the fire safety rules and regulations in place at the time, but which used cladding materials that may now be considered unsafe and require removal.

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Roger Devlin, chairman of Persimmon, said: "The concern around now banned cladding is affecting many thousands of homeowners who live in high-rise buildings right across the country.

"At Persimmon we believe we have a clear duty to act to address this issue. So today we are setting aside £75m towards any necessary cladding remediation and safety work in 26 developments we built."

Persimmon has identified nine high-rise buildings over 18 metres built by the group where, in-line with government guidance, cladding may need to be removed.

The firm says it does not own any of these buildings and the legal responsibility and duty to ensure the building is safe rests with the current owners.

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Mr Devlin said: "Where we still own the building we will act. Where we no longer own them we will work with the owners to make sure they meet their legal responsibilities and duty. If the owner does not step up then we will act to remove uncertainty and anxiety for residents and make the buildings safe."

For buildings below 18 metres in height the Government has recommended a risk-based approach. Persimmon has identified 17 buildings below 18 metres that may be fitted with cladding requiring detailed investigation.

Where Persimmon owns the building, the firm says, it will lead this work. Where the Group no longer owns the building, it has pledged to support the owners and other parties in their efforts to ensure the buildings are safe for residents.

Should a building owner fail to meet their obligations, Persimmon says it stands ready to provide the support to make sure the work takes place.

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Mr Delin added: "This is a decision which we believe is not only right for residents but also the right thing for us to do as one of the leading housebuilders in the UK.

"We want Persimmon to be a business with a long-term, responsible and sustainable future and hope our actions today demonstrate a clear commitment to these values."

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