Nearly 600 high-rise apartment blocks in England are fitted with cladding similar to that used in a 24-storey London tower block, where a devastating fire killed at least 79 people last week.
The Grenfell Tower insurance bill could be
Europe’s single biggest building insurance payout, according to a report by Sputnik. The total payout is estimated to be as high as £1 billion.
Today (June 22) Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokeswoman, Alison Donnelly, shared estimates from local authorities across England that suggest about 600 further buildings have the same type of cladding – and therefore potential fire risk. These estimates do not include buildings in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Mrs May told lawmakers in the House of Commons that tests are being conducted on sample cladding from blocks around the country at a rate of 100 per day. She also urged landlords to submit their properties for checks.
“I’ve been informed a number of those tests have come back as combustible,” Mrs May revealed in a statement about the Grenfell Tower fire in Kensington. “I know many others living in tall residential buildings will have concerns about their safety.”
Police and fire services are expected to make statements about the role of the cladding in the fire “within the next 48 hours,” said Mrs May. The Prime Minister - who has already announced a wide-ranging public inquiry into the blaze - urged people not to jump to conclusions.
“This is part of a criminal investigation,” she said. “We must therefore ensure we give the police the opportunity to do the job they undertake and do nothing to prejudice that.”
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