NFCC Remediation Position Statement, 2025

[edit] In brief

On 16 October 2025, in its Press Release "We cannot enforce our way out of the building safety crisis, warn Fire Chiefs" the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) warned that enforcement alone cannot solve the UK’s building safety crisis, calling instead for a centrally coordinated national remediation programme. Launching its Remediation Position Statement on the same date (ahead of the forthcoming Remediation Bill), NFCC said the current system is hindered by fragmented oversight, inconsistent funding, workforce shortages, and major data gaps.

While welcoming the Government’s Remediation Acceleration Plan—to complete high-rise remediation by 2029 and medium-rise by 2031—NFCC noted that progress is slow, with around 9,000 buildings believed to require work and nearly two-thirds of public projects still incomplete. It estimates inspections alone could cost £46 million, straining already underfunded fire and rescue services. With fewer than 30 qualified fire engineers and only 2.7% of staff dedicated to fire safety, capacity remains critically low. NFCC repeated calls for a cross-departmental Construction Skills Strategy to address shortages across the sector.

Building on its February 2025 White Paper on Remediation, NFCC emphasised that lasting progress requires a coordinated, risk-based approach integrating funding, regulation, and professional competence, warning that without systemic reform, the UK risks repeating the failures exposed by Grenfell.

[edit] Issue Identification

The Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 exposed systemic fire and building safety failures. Fire and rescue services (FRSs) have since played a vital role in inspecting buildings, identifying defects, and safeguarding residents, but enforcement alone cannot address deep-rooted issues.

Persistent barriers—such as workforce shortages, fragmented funding, incomplete data, unregistered buildings, and regulatory gaps—continue to slow remediation. While high-risk buildings have seen some progress, many blocks, including medium-rise buildings (11–18m), still lack critical fire safety features, with funding often limited to cladding rather than internal hazards.

NFCC welcomes the Government’s Remediation Acceleration Plan but stresses that a coordinated, well-resourced, risk-based approach is essential to protect residents and restore public confidence.

[edit] NFCC Position

NFCC warns that enforcement alone cannot resolve the building safety crisis, as many duty holders face systemic barriers to compliance. Remediation times vary and can be lengthy, depending on factors beyond the duty holder’s control.

A risk-based, collaborative, programmatic approach is needed to identify, prioritise, and make unsafe buildings safe. Without clear guidance, targeted funding, and a skilled workforce, the sector will struggle to meet Government targets and protect residents.

[edit] Recommendations

NFCC urges the UK Government to:

• Establish a centrally coordinated, risk-based remediation programme with clear roles, timelines, and shared data across the sector.
• Implement long-term workforce planning via a cross-departmental Construction Skills Strategy to address shortages in fire engineering, risk assessment, building control, and related trades.
• Ensure remediation funding covers all fire-safety defects, internal and external, without passing costs to leaseholders.
• Review Approved Document B and Building Regulations 2010 to close loopholes and clarify compliance requirements.
• Clarify enforcement powers under the Building Safety Act 2022 and enable the Building Safety Regulator to lead coordination, guidance, and precedent-setting.
• Implement Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 recommendations, including occupational regulation, product testing, and publicly accessible compliance data.

[edit] Supporting evidence

In February 2025, NFCC White Paper on Remediation was published, the position statement should be read alongside that paper, which goes into much greater depth on all of the issues below.

[edit] Scale of Remediation Challenge

• Up to 12,000 residential buildings over 11m in England may need remediation (NAO, 2024).
• MHCLG’s National Remediation System currently estimates 5,900–9,000 such buildings require work, around 12–13% of the 11m+ stock.
• 5,554 buildings are in the Government’s public remediation portfolio.
• Nearly two-thirds (3,627) remain incomplete; only 1,927 buildings have had remediation finished.

[edit] Cost to Regulators

NFCC estimates that inspecting 11m+ residential buildings could cost fire and rescue services (FRSs) £29.86m–£61.77m, with a current working estimate of £46.11m for ~9,000 buildings. This assumes 25% of qualified officers are dedicated to inspections and excludes management overheads and monitoring of interim measures. Such demands would strain FRS capacity, limiting oversight of other high-risk sites like hospitals and care homes, amid ongoing budget pressures and workforce shortages.

[edit] Workforce competence and capacity

[edit] Regulators

FRS fire safety and engineering staff take 3–5 years to gain full competence, with many leaving for other sectors, including the Building Safety Regulator. Technical complexity, especially with external walls, exceeds standard experience, limiting enforcement capacity. Protection staff are just 2.7% of the workforce. As of October 2024, 675 officers can audit 11–18m buildings, but there are fewer than 30 skilled fire engineers nationally, creating significant resource and retention challenges.

[edit] Industry

The FRS competency framework has been updated and now has His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) oversight, but much of the wider industry still relies on voluntary standards, leaving gaps in competence and enforcement. Since 2020, no centralised government strategy has addressed key skills shortages in construction and fire safety.

The construction sector faces a severe workforce shortfall—over 250,000 workers by 2028—with 35% aged over 50, rising wages, declining productivity, and historically low employment levels. Critical shortages exist in roles such as quantity surveyors, electrical engineers, and senior fire officers. STEM talent recruitment remains a challenge, prompting government investment in training, though the workforce is also needed for major infrastructure and housing projects.

This article is a precis of the "NFCC Remediation Position Statement" dated 16 October, 2025.

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