The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has written no-holds-barred letters to the CEOs of legacy flammable cladding and insulation suppliers Arconic and Kingspan, as Ron Alalouff reports.
Michael Gove, Secretary of State for DLUHC
Michael Gove has continued to increase the pressure on construction product manufacturers to contribute to the cost of cladding remediation by writing to two of them linked to the Grenfell Tower refurbishment, urging them to contribute to funding remediation works or face unspecified “commercial consequences”.
Writing to Arconic’s CEO, Timothy D Myers, Mr Gove said that he had long argued that those who manufactured and sold flammable cladding and insulation products have a “moral and financial obligation” to acknowledge their role in the legacy of unsafe buildings in the UK.
He said the testimony at the Grenfell Tower inquiry uncovered “shameful practices and an abhorrent culture of disregard for the safety of residents in their homes”.
He says he was “appalled” by the inquiry evidence about “the extent that your employees went to, so as to conceal the flammable nature of your products, and to avoid promoting fire-retardant products to customers – because doing so would reduce your profits”.
In his letter, Mr Gove noted that according to its annual report, Arconic spent an average of $11 million a year on legal advice and representation on “Grenfell-related matters” between 2017 and 2022, but had not contributed to any funding towards the costs of fixing dangerous buildings “despite the fact that your flammable products continue to put lives at risk in the United Kingdom today”.
He invites Mr Myers to meet his officials “to explain how you intend to scope, identify and pay for remediation works” as part of a “comprehensive package of financial support from construction product manufacturers”.
In a similar letter to Kingspan Group’s CEO, Gene M Murtagh, Mr Gove wrote that he was “appalled by the evidence heard by the inquiry of the reckless and deceptive behaviour within your company”.
He welcomed reports that the firm would be willing to pay where cladding products had been inappropriately used on buildings, and he thought the company’s record trading profit of £382.8m would help fund a commitment to a comprehensive package of financial support from Kingspan and other construction product manufacturers.
He concluded both letters by stating: “My department will continue to be driven solely by our commitment to protect people in their homes: people who bought or rented homes in good faith, whose safety continues to be threatened by your products, and who deserve better from the companies who have exploited their basic need for a home. Those companies that do not share our commitment to righting wrongs of the past must expect to face commercial consequences.”
Both Arconic and Kingspan were contacted for a comment but did not respond.
This article was first published on IFSEC Global, SHP’s sister online publication for security and fire news.
