Salix Homes response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report

The final report into the Grenfell Tower Inquiry has now been published – marking a critical moment in the ongoing efforts to understand and learn from the tragic events of June 14, 2017, which saw 72 people lose their lives in the most tragic of circumstances.

The report examines the decisions and circumstances that led up to the fire, providing detailed findings and recommendations aimed at preventing such a tragedy from ever occurring again.

The report reveals systematic failures from multiple organisations responsible for building safety, including the Government, the construction industry, manufacturers, policy makers and the landlord.

Salix Homes owns 20 high rise buildings across Salford, and following the publication of the report, we’d like to provide some reassurance that we are committed to ensuring the safety of all our customers and homes.

Sue Sutton, Chief Executive at Salix Homes and also Chair of the Greater Manchester Housing Providers (GMHP) Building Safety Group, said: “Following the publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report, our thoughts remain with the victims, survivors, the wider Grenfell community and all those affected by the tragedy.

“As a social housing provider with 20 high rise buildings across Salford, the safety and wellbeing of our customers and their homes will always be our top priority.

“The findings of this report are a stark reminder of the critical importance of fire and building safety, emphasising the need for accountability, transparency, and for customers’ voices to be heard.

“At Salix Homes, we take building safety seriously. Since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, we’ve been at the forefront of building safety – raising safety standards within our own properties, advising government bodies on future recommendations and piloting and implementing the reforms in the new Building Safety Act and the Social Housing Regulation Act.

“We were also one of the very first housing associations to achieve Building a Safer Future Charter Champion Status – a national benchmark, awarded in recognition of our commitment to building safety and culture change.

“However, we recognise that building safety is a continuous journey of improvement, and we remain committed to working with the fire service, our partners, the Government, fire safety experts, and of course our customers, to ensure they are safe and feel safe in their homes.

“We are now taking time to fully digest the details and recommendations of the report to ensure that we continue to improve our practices and uphold the highest standards of safety and accountability.”

You can find out more about our commitment to building safety and some of the safety measures we have implemented on the building safety pages of our website.

You can read the Grenfell Inquiry Report in full on the Government website.

Building Safety Case Information

In line with the Building Safety Act 2022, it’s now a legal requirement that we share key safety and building information with customers, just as we’re sharing our Building Safety Case Reports with the Regulator.

This includes things like:

• What material your building is made of
• Improvement work that’s been carried out at your building
• Any potential safety hazards
• When essential safety checks were last carried out and are next due

We’ve created a dedicated area on our website, where you can access information about your block, as well as report any building safety concerns you have to us. Find out more information about your block here.

New Building Safety Customer Engagement Strategy launched

Salix Homes is working hard to meet the requirements of the new building safety regime and ensure that all our properties are safe places to live.

For our customers, we want you to feel safe in your home, as well as feel informed about building safety and empowered to challenge decisions and get involved in discussions.

We’ve recently launched our new Building Safety Customer Engagement Strategy, which puts customers firmly at the centre of our approach to building safety. In addition to this overarching strategy, we are also working closely with customers to create tailored Customer Engagement Plans, specific to each of our 20 high rise blocks and the people who live there, taking into consideration things like disabilities or languages spoken.

Find out more and read our new Building Safety Customer Engagement Strategy here.