Caroline Gumble shares her take on this year’s Sir James Wates lecture, delivered by building regulations independent review author, Dame Judith Hackitt.

Sir Robert McAlpine is racing to repair cladding panels on a hotel in Woking which were damaged by the recent Storm Darragh.

A High Court judge has handed down a ruling confirming that building safety disputes between housebuilders and contractors can be heard by the adjudicator instead of going to arbitration, potentially relieving the courts’ log.

Simon Lewis and Michelle Essen review this year’s building safety highlights and share tips on what the industry should look for in 2025.

Persimmon Homes and Clarion Housing Group have been singled out by Dame Judith Hackitt as ‘exemplar’ organisations who are showing ‘leadership’ on building safety.

Dame Judith Hackitt criticises companies trying to “game the system” on building safety, says the product testing system is “rotten”, and calls for government leadership, at the annual Sir James Wates lecture.

The Institution of Structural Engineers has published guidance to help professionals prepare the structural aspects of Gateway 2 and 3 applications for higher-risk buildings.

A Conservative peer has said that only “pure luck” is preventing another disaster like Grenfell from happening again and that buildings will be due for remediation after he is “in a wooden box”.

McLaren has appointed Paul Woodhams to the newly created role of managing director for building safety and refurbishment.

Structural safety group CROSS has issued a ‘red alert’ after receiving reports of construction work, including cladding remediation, blocking smoke vents on buildings.

Labourer card changes are designed to “better align with the competency expectations” of the Building Safety Act

The National Audit Office is asking the government to publish a target date for completing cladding remediation.

The government is asking construction and regulatory bodies to continue using its official advice to determine whether a building is higher-risk following a recent judgement flagging that the guidance “appears to contradict” statutory provisions.

The Building Safety Regulator has sanctioned two building control companies following minor breaches of the code of conduct for approved inspectors.

The Grenfell Tower fire has forced construction to confront uncomfortable truths about ethical standards and priorities within an industry typically associates with progress and development, writes Anthony Walker.

“Serious deficiencies” in construction skill, knowledge and experience have been criticised by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry

Health and Safety Executive inspectors from its investigations and building safety division attended yesterday (29 August) the site of a residential block of flats in Dagenham where a fire broke on Monday.

Only a third (29%) of residential buildings with unsafe cladding in England have completed remediation, according to the latest government figures.