Six years on since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, we have a commitment from the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, that new residential buildings over 18 metres will be required to have second staircases.
This announcement follows a broad cross-sector campaign, led by the Royal Institute of British Architects, to ensure all new homes are as safe as possible.
What did the government announce?
As part of the long term plan for housing announcement, the government committed to giving “unimpeachable confidence that new homes are safe and decent to live in”. They outlined that the government plans to mandate second staircases in new residential buildings above 18 metres, following calls from the sector for coherence and certainty – echoing our position.
The Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) have said they will work with the sector and regulators over the summer months to progress transitional arrangements, to ensure the viability of projects already underway and avoid delays as far as possible.
Responding to the announcement, RIBA President Simon Allford said: “this is a significant moment. Over six years on from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, it is hugely positive and reassuring to see the government listening to the united call of experts on fire safety, bringing greater coherence and certainty for industry. Mandating second staircases in new homes over 18 metres is a vital step towards a safer built environment for all. We are pleased to have played our part in this”.
How did this policy come about?
In December 2022, DLUHC consulted on staircases in new residential buildings, proposing a 30 metre threshold. Responding to the consultation, we highlighted that, from the best available evidence and guidance from our Expert Advisory Group on Fire Safety, we believe that the appropriate threshold for a second staircase in new residential buildings is 18 metres.
The RIBA-led coalition
Following our consultation response, we established a cross-sector coalition, and wrote to the Secretary of State, outlining why we believe that 18 metres is the most appropriate height threshold. Better aligning with height thresholds across the wider regulatory environment, synchronising standards across the United Kingdom by aligning to rules in Scotland.
This better reflects a post-Grenfell world in which more people choose to evacuate rather than ‘stay put’ during a fire incident, which were key reasons behind our position.
Our coalition is made up of eight organisations which span the built environment, as well as fire safety and disability rights groups, including:
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
- Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
- National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC)
- Housing Learning and Improvement Network (Housing LIN)
- Disability Rights UK
- Inclusion London
- Claddag (Leaseholder Disability Action Group)
How have MPs engaged with the question of second staircases?
Members of Parliament (MPs) have also supported our campaign. In a recent debate in the House of Commons, which marked the sixth anniversary of the Grenfell fire, Andy Slaughter MP for Hammersmith, made a strong case for second staircases stating: “A submission from RIBA, experts in this field, states that [second staircases] should apply to any residential building over 18 metres. I would like the government to adopt that.”
Chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee, Clive Betts MP, called on the government to examine our proposals, saying: “It’s crucial the government acts to ensure the law helps to deliver a built environment which is as safe as it can be.”
What next?
We await the detailed consultation response for further information; however, this is a monumental win for the built environment.
Finally, we must remain focused on ensuring the highest standards of building safety – and we continue to call on government to undertake a full review of Approved Document B to make homes and buildings as safe as possible.
