Building Safer Futures 2026

Building Safer Futures - Time to end the Cladding Scandal Why we must end the Cladding Scandal Nine years after the Grenfell tragedy, it is imperative that the cladding crisis, which has profoundly affected and damaged the lives of so many residents, is brought to a definitive end. Funding has been allocated, and there is now a collective commitment to ensuring that all residential buildings over 11 metres are made safe, with the needs and protection of occupants placed at the forefront of this critical programme. This conference is an essential event for all professionals dedicated to safeguarding people and buildings. It is designed for stakeholders seeking to deepen their understanding of the management, regulation, and oversight of building standards and safety. The programme will outline how recent reforms will affect individuals, organisations, and dutyholders, and will provide clear guidance on preparing for the new regulatory landscape. The conference will examine the evolving building safety framework, including the central role of the proposed Single Regulator and the mechanisms through which enforcement is being undertaken. AGENDA • Welcome address - Allan Allmark - Head of Protection - West Midlands Fire • Living with the Cladding Crisis - The voice of residents • Preventing Unitended Consequences – Mike Leonard • Coffee Break • Cladding Safey Scheme - Helen Fisher - Homes England • Batttery Fires - David Reynolds - WMFS • The West Midlands Remediation Acceleration Plan, – Jules Wilks WMCA • Legal considerations – James Muller, Weightmans • Lunch Buiding Safety Matters The requirement to adopt non‑combustible building systems has now been extended to all buildings exceeding 11 metres in height. Responsibility for Building Regulations and their enforcement has transferred to the Building Safety Regulator. In parallel, the Fire Safety Act and the Building Safety Act are fully in force, and the Office for Product Safety and Standards now serves as the statutory regulator for construction products. The next step will be to introduce a Single Regulator. The combined pressures of climate change and building safety reform have initiated an unprecedented period of regulatory and technical transformation. It is essential that this transition is managed with care to avoid unintended consequences. Within this context, all individuals and organisations with influence over fire safety must demonstrate exemplary conduct, professional integrity, and the competence required to meet emerging and future challenges. A forward‑looking approach is imperative to ensure that both new and existing buildings remain fit for purpose in the long term. Over the next two decades, the United Kingdom is expected to experience 40‑degree summer temperatures, more frequent and severe weather events—including high winds, storms, flooding, wildfires—and sustained periods of overheating. Failure to design for these foreseeable risks will result in further preventable loss of life. This event is kindly sponsored by Harmony Fire and ABBE : Harmony Fire Harmony Fire is the market-leading fire safety engineering consultancy, enhanced with in-house construction and manufacturing capabilities. We’re here to support you from the initial discovery and planning stages right through to design, delivery, and ongoing maintenance. Our goal is to help you keep people safe, protect property and ensure full compliance at all times. ABBE ABBE is a specialist awarding body providing nationally recognised qualifications in the built environment, regulated by Ofqual. ABBE (Awarding Body for the Built Environment) was established in 1997 and offers a wide range of vocational qualifications in construction, surveying, energy, retrofit, and related sectors abbeqa.co.uk+1. It is regulated by Ofqual, ensuring that its qualifications are nationally recognised and meet rigorous standards for validity, reliability, and industry relevance abbeqa.co.uk. ABBE develops qualifications that support both work-based learning and licence-to-practice requirements, helping learners progress into specific roles or advance their careers