The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has today reacted to the second King’s Speech under this Labour government, setting out the legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session.

Dr Victoria Hills, CIOB’s CEO, said: “The Government’s commitment to accelerating the removal of unsafe cladding must mark a new turning point for thousands of residents who have spent far too long living in unsafe homes. It is unacceptable that, almost a decade after the Grenfell Tower tragedy, people are still facing the emotional and financial burden of a crisis completely out of their control.

“Introducing fixed timeframes for remediation on high-risk buildings is an important step towards ensuring no residents living in cladded buildings continue to live with uncertainty about the safety of their home. CIOB’s Quality Implementation Group will continue contributing the expertise of our members as these reforms progress.

“While a Construction Regulator Bill was not mentioned in the King’s Speech, we expect to see proposals come forward as part of the Government’s wider legislative programme following the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. CIOB has long called for clearer accountability and a stronger regulatory framework for both construction and building safety. We supported the introduction of a formal construction regulator in our response to the Grenfell Phase 2 Inquiry, and we look forward to working with Government and industry to help deliver meaningful culture change across the sector.

“Finally, it is encouraging to see continued action on late payments, which continue to put huge pressure on SMEs across construction. Figures show the industry has experienced the highest number of insolvencies in any 12-month period. CIOB was pleased to contribute to the Government’s 2025 consultation on late payment practices, and we look forward to engaging further as the legislation progresses through Parliament."