New powers grant first invoice for safety modifications to Canary Wharf's external cladding
Under the Building Safety Act 2022, significant strides have been made in holding developers accountable for repairing defective buildings, including those with cladding issues and other historical safety defects[2]. As of August 2025, the current status of cladding repairs on unsafe buildings in the UK remains a pressing issue.
Sluggish Progress in Cladding Repairs Nationwide
The latest data reveals that only four out of 161 buildings where major developers are responsible for repairs have completed the necessary works. This slow pace of remediation efforts across the UK is a cause for concern[5].
Legal Actions and the Building Safety Act
The government has made it clear that developers must pay for repairs, even if they no longer own the buildings. If a developer cannot be identified or has not agreed to pay, funding will be directly allocated for cladding system repairs[2]. Furthermore, the Act provides protections for leaseholders, capping contributions for non-cladding defects and ensuring costs are spread over time. This includes safeguards for interim measures like waking watch costs[2].
Canary Wharf Apartment Complex: A Case Study
While specific information regarding the current status of cladding repairs at the Canary Wharf apartment complex is not available, any necessary repairs would be subject to the framework established by the Building Safety Act and related legal actions initiated by authorities, including those potentially led by Michael Gove, the former UK Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Legal Action against the Landlord of Canary Wharf Apartment Complex
Michael Gove has launched legal action against the landlord of a Canary Wharf apartment complex, marking the first move by him to use legal powers under the Building Safety Act[3]. The housing department has also applied to a property tribunal to get Yianis Holdings Ltd to contribute to fixing safety problems at the Canary Riverside development.
Impact on Leaseholders
Some leaseholders at residential blocks with safety defects are now facing huge bills, and some are unable to sell their properties due to the building safety issues[4]. The Building Safety Act aims to protect these individuals by ensuring that costs are spread over time and contributions are capped.
The Way Forward
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities plans to recover funds from developers and freeholders who have profited from unsafe buildings. The Building Safety Act allows the government, regulators, or other 'interest persons' to apply for orders requiring building owners, developers, or others to fix building safety defects or make payments towards the costs[1]. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will continue to take action against those who do not take responsibility for building safety issues.
[1] Building Safety Act
[2] Government Guidance on the Building Safety Act
[3] Gove launches legal action against Canary Wharf landlord
[4] Leaseholders face huge bills for building safety work
[5] Building safety: Just four out of 161 high-rise blocks fixed
In light of the Building Safety Act, developers are expected to pay for the necessary repairs of cladding systems, as shown by the legal action against the landlord of a Canary Wharf apartment complex [3]. Encouraging sports participation can also be viewed as a form of housing development, where regular exercise can have a positive impact on mental and physical health, leading to stronger and healthier communities.
