A new £33 million fund for the remediation or mitigation of the life safety fire risks linked to external wall systems in residential buildings in Northern Ireland has been launched.

The fund applies to residential buildings which are over 11 metres tall. It will be used to remediate or mitigate the fire risks associated with exterior wall cladding that is potentially unsafe.

It follows the launch of the Cladding Safety Scheme (CSS) to address life safety fire risks associated with cladding on residential buildings over 11m in height in England. The Department for Communities has formed an agreement with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) that Northern Ireland applications can be processed and delivered through their Cladding Safety Scheme (CSS). In Northern Ireland, it will be administered by Homes England as part of the English scheme.

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In Northern Ireland, the CSS funding applies to residential buildings above 11m where a responsible developer cannot be identified, traced, or held responsible.

A spokesperson for the Department for Communities said: "This fund has been launched following ongoing consultation with residents, developers and owners of potentially affected buildings in Northern Ireland. Its primary aim is to make homes safe. However, it is also hoped that the fund will go some way restoring confidence to the market and easing the financial stress caused by inflated home insurance premiums and other associated costs for leaseholders who have been unable to sell their homes."