When will sections 116-125 of the Building Safety Act be enforced and implemented in Wales?
As the member will be aware, building safety forms part of the Co-operation Agreement.
The new powers within the UK Building Safety Act 2022 in relation to remediation and contribution orders (sections 116-125) are applied on an England only basis.
These provisions were included as late amendments to the UK Building Safety Bill and as such there was insufficient time to consider the full implications of applying them in Wales.
However, I am considering the legal protections and the options open to us here in Wales.
The Building Safety Act 2022 does include a number of other provisions intended to add further protection for leaseholders in Wales, including the extension of the Defective Premises Act 1972 time periods and provision to deal with the lack of redress available where a development company no longer exists.
I am also looking to bring about changes to the building control system via the development of secondary legislation. This will include consultation with stakeholders and the public on the key matters.