The use of combustible cladding on the external walls of high rise buildings in Wales will be banned from 13 January 2020. Housing Minister, Julie James, announced the ban on 19 December 2019 and the decision follows on from a similar cladding ban which was applied in England in December 2018.
The ban will apply to combustible cladding on all new residential buildings (flats, student accommodation and care homes) and hospitals over 18 metres in height.
The ban will also apply to existing buildings where relevant building work is being carried out which falls within the scope of the Building Regulations unless:
- the building works have started on-site; or
- an initial notice, building notice or full plans have been deposited;
and work has started on-site within a period of eight weeks.
This means that the ban will apply unless building works have started on-site, an initial notice, building notice or full plans have been deposited etc.
The ban aims to address the concerns about the role that combustible cladding can play in spreading fire, following the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017.
