Building Safety Bill amendments could have ‘dire consequences’, government warned

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has warned the government that late amendments to its Building Safety Bill, including plans to extend defects liability, are “unworkable” and could force professionals to leave the sector.The comments were part of CIC’s evidence to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee inquiry which is scrutinising housing secretary Michael Gove’s approach to fixing the building safety crisis.Gove announced in January this year that the government plans to extend the limitation period under section 1 of the Defective Premises Act to 30 years – double the 15-year limit originally proposed.CIC said that the “huge increase in level and extent of liability” under the new plans could force SMEs out of housing development, with the insurance sector potentially concluding that it should walk away from construction.Gove: ‘Practical difficulties’ in pursuing foreign product manufacturers over defectsCladding firms face legal action and fines for defective productsThe CIC said that further amendments announced by Gove in February could add more insurance pressure to the sector and “could have a deleterious impact on the capability to remediate unsafe buildings and build new housing (including affordable housing) and potentially militate against levelling-up policy intentions”.