Shares of London-listed housebuilders rallied on Monday following a report the government is dropping its demand for them to contribute towards a £4bn cladding remediation fund.
The government is embroiled in discussions with the Home Builders Federation (HBF) over a plan to remediate dangerous cladding on buildings of between 11 metres and 18 metres high. Housing secretary Michael Gove had set a deadline of Thursday 31 March for an agreement to be made.
Construction News said it was understood the two parties are “nearly there” in agreeing on terms, but that the £4bn remediation fund is not being discussed at the moment. Instead, housebuilders would pledge to remediate the medium-rise buildings they have built over the last 30 years and not apply to the Building Safety Fund (BSF) for the funding.
That would free up the remainder of the £5.1bn BSF to be used to remediate buildings higher than 18 metres.
The news sent housebuilding shares surging. At 1110 BST, Persimmon was up 4.8% and Barratt Developments was 4.5% higher, while Berkeley and Taylor Wimpey were both 3.8% firmer.
Bellway, Redrow and Crest Nicholson rose 4.5%, 3.9% and 3.3%, respectively.
