Five house builders now facing ban over building safety contracts

Developers Abbey Developments, Avant, Dandara, Emerson Group (Jones Homes) and Rydon Homes have still to sign contracts just over three weeks after housing and levelling up secretary Michael Gove’s deadline.

This list of those left facing bans follows the late signing of legally-binding contracts by Ballymore, Galliard Homes, Inland Homes, Lendlease, London Square, and Telford Homes.

As of 4 April 2023, 45 developers have signed the contract and four developers that originally pledged to sign were subsequently found not to have developed buildings within the scope of the contract.

The remediation contract requires developers to fix buildings and reimburse taxpayers, with an estimated £2bn expected to be committed to fund repairs.

Legislation is now being brought forward to introducing powers to prevent developers from operating freely in the housing market if they fail to sign and comply with the remediation contract.

Under this legislation, a Responsible Actors Scheme (RAS) will be created, allowing the housing secretary to block developers who have not signed the contract or failed to comply with its terms from carrying out development and from receiving building control approval.

This will prevent them from operating as normal in the housing market for as long as they do not resolve the problems of the past.