Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Building Safety Minister Rushanara Ali have set out their expectations for regulators and partners to increase the pace of remediating unsafe buildings.

Following the major fire in Dagenham at the end of August, last week Rayner convened a roundtable with West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester Paul Dennett and Deputy Mayor of London Jules Pipe, along with key representatives from the London Fire Brigade, the National Fire Chiefs Council, the Local Government Association, the Building Safety Regulator, and other key partners.

Rayner urged the attendees that speeding up the remediation of buildings and ensuring that people are safe in buildings undergoing remediation were her priorities.

She also praised the bravery of firefighters who tackled the fire at Spectrum Building in Dagenham, which she visited last week, and the support offered to residents by Barking and Dagenham Council.

Rayner said: “Speeding up the remediation of buildings is absolutely critical.

“Seven years on from Grenfell, action has been far too slow and the fire in Dagenham is a horrific reminder of the risk unsafe cladding still poses to far too many people.

“This government will expect more from regulators and partners to make sure action is being taken now to make homes safe, speed up remediation and ensure that buildings in the process of being remediated are managed safely for residents.”

Building Safety Minister Rushanara Ali said: “I would like to thank the emergency services, council and wider community for all they have done following the fire in Dagenham.

“It is absolutely essential that central and local government, regulators, and partners come together, as we have today, to drive fast and effective change to get buildings fixed, made safe and make sure residents are protected.”