According to recent figures, at least 38,000 new homes in London have been halted due to the government’s failure to clarify the second staircase fire safety regulation
Under the new second staircase fire safety regulation, all new buildings in England over 18m must have two staircases to provide a second escape route in emergencies.
However, new buildings are not being started because the government has not issued the new guidance. Ministers promised to deliver the guidance developers need to adhere to the new rules by Autumn 2023, but nothing has been published.
The 38,000 homes represent a jump of 4,000 since last year
The figure of 38,000 only applies to major planning applications that are referrable to City Hall, meaning that the true figure of new homes delayed is likely much higher.
London Assembly member Sheikh has voiced concerns over the delay causing a backlog of new homes in London. Without a guarantee of future timelines, thousands of new homes are being stuck in the planning system.
Staircases provide emergency exits for residents and are the route through which fire brigade search and rescue operations are conducted.
No second staircase guidance has been published
Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Government first announced plans requiring new buildings to have at least two staircases in 2022.
Since Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, was elected, London has achieved a rate of housing completions that’s 20% higher than the rest of the country, effectively costing areas outside of London 317,000 new homes.
Despite Khan’s success, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has attacked the Mayor on housebuilding and threatened to take away some of his planning powers.
The delay is seeing much-needed housing stuck in the planning system
London Assembly Labour spokesperson for planning, Sakina Sheikh AM, said: “The housing crisis is bad enough without the Government making it worse. It’s not good enough that they’re missing their own deadlines for the rules new schemes need.
“Buildings over 18m should have a second staircase to allow residents to get out safely in an emergency. The uncertainty the delay is causing, however, means Londoners are seeing the homes they need get stuck in the planning system.
“It’s unbelievable that Ministers have the gall to criticise others’ housebuilding efforts when they are preventing new homes being built for Londoners.”
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