Government ‘names and shames’ first freeholder over fire safety failings

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The government has used new legal powers to hold a freeholder to account for failing to fix their building’s fire safety defects.

Grey GR, owners of the 15-storey Vista tower block in Stevenage (pictured), has been given 21 days to commit to remediating defects or face court action, following two years of delays for more than 100 residents living in the tower.

The freeholder is one of the first to be named and shamed by the newly created Recovery Strategy Unit, set up to identify and pursue firms which repeatedly refuse to fix buildings.

Leaseholders of Vista Tower have been handed bills of up to £200,000 each and are unable to sell, despite unsafe cladding being identified on the building more than two years ago.

While it was registered with the Building Safety Fund in 2020, the funding agreement is yet to be signed, meaning the government cannot release any money.

Put on hold

Levelling Up Secretary Simon Clarke (pictured) says the lives of residents have been put on hold while they wait for Grey GR to remediate unsafe cladding. 

“Enough is enough,” adds Clarke. “This legal action should act as a warning to the rest of industry’s outliers – big and small. Step up, follow your peers and make safe the buildings you own or legal action will be taken against you.”

There are at least 23 other buildings registered with the Building Safety Fund that have been unable to progress due to unnecessary delays.

The department is examining these cases and is also considering issuing an application for a Remediation Contribution Order against other companies associated with Grey GR including Railways Pension Trustee Company Limited (RailPen) and Railtrust Holdings Limited (Railtrust).

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