Long-awaited removal of building safety guidance expected imminently
The government is reportedly set to withdraw its advice about the use of controversial EWS1 building safety forms immediately.
The government said housing secretary Michael Gove will later today 鈥渦nveil a package of measures to restore common sense to the industry and end the situation of buildings being declared unsafe when they are not鈥�.
According to reports, this will include the long-awaited removal of the government鈥檚 consolidated advice note (CAN) recommending the use of EWS1 forms on all buildings. New guidance on the use of the forms is expected within weeks.
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The requirement for EWS1 fire safety building information forms has been blamed for widespread difficulties in getting homes valued and mortgaged.
The government last summer said the forms should no longer be required on buildings under 18m in height and urged lenders to update their practices.
However, many major lenders were reluctant to do so until guidance, including the CAN, was updated.
The government was dealt a blow last month however when the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) refused to change its advice over the use of EWS1 forms.
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