108 council tower blocks still have ‘danger’ cladding

More than 100 council high-rises in Scotland still have potentially deadly cladding four years after the horrifying Grenfell Tower blaze that killed 72 people.

The Scottish Government is now expected to be granted a cash windfall as part of the Barnett formula to spend on sorting the issue.

London’s Grenfell Tower had polyethylene-type ACM panels (ACM-Pe), and 23 high-rises in Scotland are reported to have similar cladding.

At least 85 other high-rise blocks contain high-pressure laminate (HPL) panels, which safety experts have raised serious concerns about.

HPL panels are typically made from wood or paper fibre layered with resin. They come in two varieties, with one considered to be more dangerous.

In 2019, researchers found HPL cladding failed fire safety tests 80 per cent of the time.

The category of cladding linked to Grenfell failed 60 per cent of the time, amid Government warnings buildings more than 59ft (18m) high were particularly at risk.

Last year, a test commissioned by the Metal Cladding and roofing Manufacturers Association found HPL burned almost as rapidly as the aluminium and plastic panels blamed for Grenfell.

North Lanarkshire Council has the most HPL in its properties, with 33 of its 48 tower blocks and 41 school buildings containing the cladding. These will either be refurbished or demolished in the next few years.

The council is currently assessing its housing stock in the wake of new fire safety guidance issued by the royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Its advice to fill out new forms assessing the fire safety of housing block walls is the result of a deal with the Government last November. It was designed to help some 500,000 flat owners in blocks without cladding systems avoid problems with selling or mortgages.

North Lanarkshire Council said it had ‘robust safety and monitoring procedures’ for its buildings, in line with safety guidelines.