Persimmon has set aside £75m to pay for its contribution to any remedial work needed on 26 buildings in its legacy development portfolio that may be affected by the cladding issue.
The news comes as the government reportedly prepares to announce a fund that will include up to £5bn in grants to remove cladding from blocks that are higher than 18 metres.
Following a review, the housebuilder said it had identified nine high-rise buildings that it no longer owns where cladding may need to be removed.
A further 17 below 18 metres that may have been fitted with ACM cladding require “detailed investigation”.
Persimmon said it is writing to building owners and management companies to inform them of the findings of its review and to agree next steps.
Roger Devlin, chairman of Persimmon, 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.
“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.”
To send feedback, e-mail pui-guan.man@egi.co.uk or tweet @PuiGuanM or @estatesgazette
