Welsh building safety programme
Wales watch: Welsh building safety programme
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Welsh Translation/cyfieithiad Cymraeg
The Welsh Government are pleased to share a progress update via our Newsletter, on the actions we are taking, together with Plaid Cymru to address Building Safety in Wales.
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Welsh building safety programme
Welcome to our Building Safety newsletter – designed to keep you regularly informed on developments in Wales.
You can also follow us on Twitter using @WGClimateChange
Message from the Minister for climate change
I am pleased to share a progress update on the actions we are taking, together with Plaid Cymru to address building Safety in Wales.
There are seven parts to the update, including our orphan building scheme, the developer work plans in place with a timescale for remediation, access to mortgages, social sector, as well as the leaseholder support scheme and our work to reform the building safety system in Wales.
Orphan buildings
In March, we announced that we were taking forward 28 buildings as part of the Orphan Buildings pilot scheme.
The scheme can be defined as buildings where the developer has ceased trading, is unknown, or the building was developed over 30 years ago.
For all 28 buildings, Responsible Person(s) have been contacted advising the next steps. Our consultants are preparing workplans and works to be undertaken.
This will form part of the second phase of the Welsh Building Safety Fund, and as previously announced, the costs of these works in our Orphan Buildings scheme, will be covered by the Welsh Government. Remediation works will be scheduled to start shortly on the first of the buildings.
Retrospectively paying for works in ‘Orphan buildings’
We are increasingly being made aware of cases where leaseholders have paid up front for fire safety works.
The Welsh Government have agreed to fund eligible works that have already been undertaken, in medium and high-rise buildings which fall in the orphan building category.
Where fire safety works have been paid for by leaseholders that relate to construction faults in orphan buildings, they will be paid back.
Applications are invited from Responsible Persons, on behalf of leaseholders. We urge Responsible Person(s) that find themselves in this position to contact officials at: BuildingSafety@gov.wales
There are leaseholders who have had to pay to rectify fire safety works in buildings developed by companies signed up to the Welsh Government’s contract. These companies are being encouraged to reimburse leaseholders.
We are pleased some companies have already started to reimburse leaseholders.
Developer work plans
In March, we announced that six developers had signed our legally binding contract that underpins our Developers’ Pact, and three developers had confirmed their intent to sign.
We are pleased to confirm all developers expected to sign our legally binding contract have now done so. This represents their commitment and intention to address fire safety issues in buildings they have developed over the last 30 years.
These developers are Vistry, Countryside, Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, Bellway, Barratts, Lovell, Crest Nicholson, McCarthy Stone and Redrow.
Our contract sets out strict timelines, requesting work plans and an update on works underway.
We are pleased to announce all work plans have been received, and all developers are actively engaging with us. We are pleased to provide the following update on the works developers are already undertaking / have undertaken:
Persimmon are on site at Century Wharf and Aurora.
Bellway are on site at Prospect place and ACM cladding has been removed from Quay side apartments.
McCarthy Stone have remediated all fire safety works in buildings in Wales.
Redrow have provided funding for internal fire safety works at Celestia.
We are pleased these developers have stepped up to their responsibility. This shows their commitment to building safety. We will be monitoring works closely and ensure timelines are progressing to make certain this positive start continues.
We are also pleased we have had positive discussions with the remaining developers, who are working on their plans to start works as swiftly as possible.
Lenders
We also announced in March the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors had agreed to extend their guidance to valuers to apply to both England and Wales.
The guidance will be published in due course, and once published will include a link to the Welsh Government web page.
This will include a list of properties that are included within our Building Safety Programme scope- specifically those named within the developer’s individual contracts and those buildings included within the first cohort of orphan buildings. It will also hold information such as building status and remediation plans.
This will provide valuers an indication of building status and help support the removal of barriers and enable mortgage valuations of flats in affected blocks.
We continue to work closely with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and UK Finance to ensure leaseholders in buildings affected by fire safety issues are able to access mortgages.
Social housing
In March, we also provided an update on the support we have provided to medium and high-rise residential buildings in the social sector.
The Welsh Government have provided funding through the Social Landlord Grant to remediate medium and high-rise buildings in the social sector.
The latest and last round of funding will close in July 2023. Following this final round of applications, we anticipate all social sector buildings where we have received an eligible application, will either be complete or have a work plan in place.
Leaseholder support scheme
We are aware of the significant impact building safety issues are having on affected residents, both financially and on their health and wellbeing. In response to this, we launched the Leaseholder Support Scheme.
The scheme only exists in Wales and is aimed at those facing financial hardship as a direct result of these building safety issues.
In March, we provided an update following a review of the scheme. We are pleased that one property has been purchased and five properties are proceeding through the property purchase process.
Where these properties are bought, this will provide leaseholders the option to move on or rent the property back.
We are also pleased to see an increase in enquiries following the review. We continue to urge any leaseholders in financial difficulty to complete our eligibility checker, to see if they can access support through this scheme.
For further information please visit the Welsh Government website.
Reform, design and construction and occupation phase
We remain committed to reforming the current system of building safety in Wales. Our proposals for reform at the design and construction phase were set out in our White Paper, Safer Buildings in Wales.
The first phase of reforms to the building control regime is being progressed. This will commence legislative changes to rectify problems identified within the current regime.
The first phase will bring in more stringent regulation of the building control profession, which includes private building control approvers, building inspectors and local authorities exercising building control functions.
The changes will improve competence levels, transparency and accountability in the building control professions. This is to make sure that only individuals who have the relevant skills and competence are advising decision-makers before important building control measures are taken.
A number of related consultations have recently been concluded and responses will be published shortly. In the autumn, we will be in a position to make the first set of secondary legislation, for the creation of registers for all Building Inspectors and Building Control Approvers.
The registration process is likely to be opened in October of this year, with a view of moving to the new regime from April 2024.
More information on these arrangements will be published shortly
We are working at pace on a Building Safety Bill for Wales, which will be introduced later this Senedd Term. These plans for reform will improve accountability for building safety at the occupation phase. The intention is for the new occupation phase regime to include all multi-occupied residential buildings, not just those of 18 metres and above as is the case in England.
Over the past twelve months, we have been working with stakeholders in industry and with residents to help us develop our thinking further.
We are listening carefully to what stakeholders are telling us. It will take time to work through the detail. But what we need is a regime that works effectively to meet the needs of Wales. One that helps to minimise risks to residents, so that they can feel safe and secure in their homes.
We continue to take forward our Building Safety Programme and look forward to updating members as we develop our ambitious plans for delivery.
Welsh Translation/cyfieithiad Cymraeg
Cynnwys wedi’i gymryd o’r Cylchlythyr Diogelwch Adeiladau
Mae’n bleser gan Lywodraeth Cymru rannu diweddariad cynnydd trwy ein Cylchlythyr, ar y camau rydym yn eu cymryd, ynghyd â Phlaid Cymru i fynd i’r afael â Diogelwch Adeiladau yng Nghymru.
I dderbyn y cylchlythyr, bydd angen i chi danysgrifio drwy glicio ar y ddolen sydd ar gael yma a chofrestru’ch diddordeb.
Os hoffech danysgrifio i’r fersiwn Gymraeg tanysgrifiwch yma.
Unwaith y byddwch wedi cofrestru byddwch yn derbyn diweddariadau rheolaidd gan y Rhaglen Diogelwch Adeiladau.
Rhaglen diogelwch adeiladau Cymru
Croeso i’n cylchlythyr Diogelwch Adeiladau – sydd wedi’i gynllunio i roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i chi’n rheolaidd am ddatblygiadau yng Nghymru.
Gallwch hefyd ein dilyn ar Twitter gan ddefnyddio @WGClimateChange
Neges gan y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd
Rwy’n falch o rannu diweddariad cynnydd ar y camau rydym yn eu cymryd, ynghyd â Phlaid Cymru i fynd i’r afael â Diogelwch adeiladau yng Nghymru.
Mae saith rhan i’r diweddariad, gan gynnwys ein cynllun adeiladau amddifad, y cynlluniau gwaith datblygwyr sydd ar waith ag amserlen ar gyfer gwaith adfer, mynediad at forgeisi, y sector cymdeithasol, yn ogystal â’r cynllun cymorth i lesddeiliaid a’n gwaith i ddiwygio’r system diogelwch adeiladau yng Nghymru.
Adeiladau Amddifad
Ym mis Mawrth, cyhoeddwyd ein bod yn bwrw ymlaen â 28 o adeiladau fel rhan o gynllun peilot Adeiladau Amddifad.
Gellir diffinio’r cynllun fel adeiladau lle mae’r datblygwr wedi rhoi’r gorau i fasnachu, yn anhysbys, neu lle cafodd yr adeilad ei ddatblygu dros 30 mlynedd yn ôl.
Ar gyfer pob un o’r 28 adeilad, cysylltwyd â’r Person(au) Cyfrifol i roi gwybod am y camau nesaf. Mae ein hymgynghorwyr yn paratoi cynlluniau gwaith a gwaith i’w wneud.
Bydd hyn yn rhan o ail gam Cronfa Diogelwch Adeiladau Cymru, ac fel y cyhoeddwyd yn flaenorol, bydd costau’r gwaith hwn yn ein cynllun Adeiladau Amddifad yn cael eu talu gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Bydd gwaith adfer yn cychwyn yn fuan ar y cyntaf o’r adeiladau.
Talu’n Ôl-weithredol am Waith mewn ‘Adeiladau Amddifad’
Rydym yn dod yn fwyfwy ymwybodol o achosion lle mae lesddeiliaid wedi talu ymlaen llaw am waith diogelwch tân.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cytuno i ariannu gwaith cymwys sydd eisoes wedi’i wneud, mewn adeiladau canolig ac uchel sy’n dod o fewn y categori adeiladau amddifad.
Lle talwyd am waith diogelwch tân gan lesddeiliaid sy’n ymwneud â diffygion adeiladu mewn adeiladau amddifad, byddant yn cael eu had-dalu.
Gwahoddir ceisiadau gan Bersonau Cyfrifol, ar ran lesddeiliaid. Rydym yn annog y Person(au) Cyfrifol sy’n canfod eu hunain yn y sefyllfa hon i gysylltu â swyddogion yn: BuildingSafety@gov.wales
Mae lesddeiliaid sydd wedi gorfod talu i unioni gwaith diogelwch tân mewn adeiladau a ddatblygwyd gan gwmnïau sydd wedi ymrwymo i gontract Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae’r cwmnïau hyn yn cael eu hannog i ad-dalu lesddeiliaid.
Rydym yn falch bod rhai cwmnïau eisoes wedi dechrau ad-dalu lesddeiliaid.
Cynlluniau Gwaith Datblygwyr
Ym mis Mawrth, fe wnaethom gyhoeddi bod chwe datblygwr wedi llofnodi ein contract cyfreithiol rwymol sy’n sail i’n Cytundeb Datblygwyr, ac roedd tri datblygwr wedi cadarnhau eu bwriad i lofnodi.
Mae’n bleser gennym gadarnhau bod yr holl ddatblygwyr y disgwylir iddynt lofnodi ein contract cyfreithiol rwymol bellach wedi gwneud hynny. Mae hyn yn cynrychioli eu hymrwymiad a’u bwriad i fynd i’r afael â materion ynghylch diogelwch tân mewn adeiladau y maent wedi’u datblygu dros y 30 mlynedd diwethaf.
Y datblygwyr hyn yw Vistry, Countryside, Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, Bellway, Barratts, Lovell, Crest Nicholson, McCarthy Stone a Redrow.
Mae ein contract yn nodi amserlenni llym, yn gofyn am gynlluniau gwaith a diweddariad ar waith sydd ar y gweill.
Mae’n bleser gennym gyhoeddi bod yr holl gynlluniau gwaith wedi’u derbyn, ac mae’r holl ddatblygwyr yn ymgysylltu’n frwd â ni. Mae’n bleser gennym ddarparu’r diweddariad canlynol ar y gwaith y mae datblygwyr eisoes yn ei wneud / wedi’i wneud:
Mae Persimmon ar y safle yn Century Wharf ac Aurora.
Mae Bellway ar y safle yn Prospect Place ac mae cladin ACM wedi’i dynnu o fflatiau ar ochr y Cei.
Mae McCarthy Stone wedi adfer yr holl waith diogelwch tân mewn adeiladau yng Nghymru.
Mae Redrow wedi darparu cyllid ar gyfer gwaith diogelwch tân mewnol yn Celestia.
Rydym yn falch bod y datblygwyr hyn wedi camu i fyny i’w cyfrifoldeb. Mae hyn yn dangos eu hymrwymiad i ddiogelwch adeiladau. Byddwn yn monitro’r gwaith yn agos ac yn sicrhau bod amserlenni’n mynd rhagddynt er mwyn sicrhau bod y dechrau cadarnhaol hwn yn parhau.
Rydym hefyd yn falch ein bod wedi cael trafodaethau cadarnhaol gyda’r datblygwyr sy’n weddill, sy’n gweithio ar eu cynlluniau i ddechrau gwaith cyn gynted â phosibl.
Rhoddwr Benthyciadau
Fe wnaethom hefyd gyhoeddi ym mis Mawrth fod Sefydliad Brenhinol y Syrfewyr Siartredig wedi cytuno i ymestyn eu canllawiau i briswyr i wneud cais i Gymru a Lloegr.
Caiff y canllawiau eu cyhoeddi maes o law, ac ar ôl eu cyhoeddi byddant yn cynnwys dolen i dudalen we Llywodraeth Cymru.
Bydd hyn yn cynnwys rhestr o eiddo sydd wedi’u cynnwys o fewn cwmpas ein Rhaglen Diogelwch Adeiladau – yn benodol y rhai a enwir yng nghontractau unigol y datblygwr a’r adeiladau hynny sydd wedi’u cynnwys yn y garfan gyntaf o adeiladau amddifad. Bydd hefyd yn cadw gwybodaeth megis statws adeilad a chynlluniau adfer.
Bydd hyn yn rhoi syniad o statws yr adeilad i briswyr ac yn helpu i gefnogi tynnu rhwystrau a galluogi prisio morgeisi ar fflatiau mewn blociau yr effeithir arnynt.
Rydym yn parhau i weithio’n agos gyda Sefydliad Brenhinol y Syrfewyr Siartredig a Chyllid y DU i sicrhau bod lesddeiliaid mewn adeiladau y mae materion diogelwch tân yn effeithio arnynt yn gallu cyrchu morgeisi.
Tai Cymdeithasol
Ym mis Mawrth, fe wnaethom ddarparu diweddariad hefyd ar y cymorth rydym wedi’i roi i adeiladau preswyl canolig ac uchel iawn yn y sector cymdeithasol.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu cyllid drwy’r Grant Landlordiaid Cymdeithasol i adfer adeiladau canolig ac uchel iawn yn y sector cymdeithasol.
Bydd y cylch cyllido diweddaraf a’r olaf yn cau ym mis Gorffennaf 2023. Yn dilyn y cylch terfynol hwn o geisiadau, rydym yn rhagweld y bydd holl adeiladau’r sector cymdeithasol lle rydym wedi derbyn cais cymwys, naill ai wedi’u cwblhau neu â chynllun gwaith yn ei le.
Cynllun cymorth i lesddeiliaid
Rydym yn ymwybodol o’r effaith sylweddol y mae materion diogelwch adeiladau yn ei chael ar drigolion yr effeithir arnynt, yn ariannol ac ar eu hiechyd a’u lles. Mewn ymateb i hyn, lansiwyd y Cynllun Cymorth i Lesddeiliaid gennym.
Dim ond yng Nghymru y mae’r cynllun yn bodoli ac mae wedi’i anelu at y rhai sy’n wynebu caledi ariannol o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i’r materion diogelwch adeiladau hyn.
Ym mis Mawrth, rhoesom ddiweddariad yn dilyn adolygiad o’r cynllun. Rydym yn falch bod un eiddo wedi’i brynu a phum eiddo yn bwrw ymlaen â’r broses prynu eiddo.
Lle caiff yr eiddo hyn eu prynu, bydd hyn yn rhoi’r dewis i lesddeiliaid symud ymlaen neu rentu’r eiddo yn ôl.
Rydym hefyd yn falch o weld cynnydd mewn ymholiadau yn dilyn yr adolygiad. Rydym yn parhau i annog unrhyw lesddeiliaid sydd mewn trafferthion ariannol i gwblhau ein gwiriwr cymhwysedd, i weld a allant gael cymorth drwy’r cynllun hwn.
I weld rhagor o wybodaeth ewch i wefan Llywodraeth Cymru.
Diwygio, Dylunio ac Adeiladu a’r Cyfnod Meddiannu
Rydym yn parhau i fod yn ymrwymedig i ddiwygio’r system bresennol o ddiogelwch adeiladau yng Nghymru. Nodwyd ein cynigion ar gyfer diwygio yn ystod y cyfnod dylunio ac adeiladu yn ein Papur Gwyn, Adeiladau Diogelach yng Nghymru
Mae cam cyntaf y diwygiadau i’r gyfundrefn rheoli adeiladu’n cael ei symud ymlaen. Bydd hyn yn cychwyn newidiadau deddfwriaethol i unioni problemau a nodwyd o fewn y gyfundrefn bresennol.
Bydd y cam cyntaf yn cyflwyno rheoleiddio llymach ar y proffesiwn rheoli adeiladu, sy’n cynnwys cymeradwywyr rheoli adeiladu preifat, arolygwyr adeiladu ac awdurdodau lleol sy’n arfer swyddogaethau rheoli adeiladu.
Bydd y newidiadau’n gwella lefelau cymhwysedd, tryloywder ac atebolrwydd yn y proffesiynau rheoli adeiladu. Mae hyn er mwyn sicrhau mai dim ond unigolion sydd â’r sgiliau a’r cymhwysedd perthnasol sy’n cynghori’r rhai sy’n gwneud penderfyniadau cyn cymryd mesurau rheoli adeiladu pwysig.
Mae nifer o ymgynghoriadau cysylltiedig wedi dod i ben yn ddiweddar a bydd ymatebion yn cael eu cyhoeddi cyn bo hir. Yn yr hydref, byddwn mewn sefyllfa i wneud y set gyntaf o is-ddeddfwriaeth, er mwyn creu cofrestrau ar gyfer yr holl Arolygwyr Adeiladu a Chymeradwywyr Rheoli Adeiladu.
Mae’r broses gofrestru’n debygol o gael ei hagor ym mis Hydref eleni, gyda’r bwriad o symud i’r gyfundrefn newydd o fis Ebrill 2024.
Cyhoeddir rhagor o wybodaeth am y trefniadau hyn cynbo hir.
Rydym yn gweithio’n gyflym ar Fil Diogelwch Adeiladau i Gymru, a gyflwynir yn ddiweddarach yn Nhymor y Senedd. Bydd y cynlluniau diwygio hyn yn gwella atebolrwydd ar gyfer diogelwch adeiladau yn y cyfnod meddiannu. Y bwriad yw i’r gyfundrefn cyfnod meddiannu newydd gynnwys yr holl adeiladau preswyl aml-feddiannaeth, nid dim ond y rhai 18 metr ac uwch fel sy’n digwydd yn Lloegr.
Dros y deuddeg mis diwethaf, rydym wedi bod yn gweithio gyda rhanddeiliaid mewn diwydiant a chyda phreswylwyr i’n helpu i ddatblygu ein ffordd o feddwl ymhellach.
Rydym yn gwrando’n ofalus ar yr hyn y mae rhanddeiliaid yn ei ddweud wrthym. Bydd yn cymryd amser i weithio drwy’r manylion. Ond yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom yw cyfundrefn sy’n gweithio’n effeithiol i ddiwallu anghenion Cymru. Un sy’n helpu i leihau risgiau i breswylwyr, fel y gallant deimlo’n ddiogel yn eu cartrefi.
Rydym yn parhau i fwrw ymlaen â’n Rhaglen Diogelwch Adeiladau ac yn edrych ymlaen at roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i aelodau wrth i ni ddatblygu ein cynlluniau uchelgeisiol ar gyfer cyflawni.