The government has set out details of its expanded fund to tackle dangerous cladding, but campaigners say it will cover less than a third of the work that is needed to make blocks of flats safe.

Ministers have today published the prospectus for a new £1bn fund to fix unsafe cladding that was not covered by a previous £600m fund because that was restricted to aluminium composite material cladding of the type used on Grenfell Tower.

Housing minister Robert Jenrick says: “This is work that must take place as an absolute priority to keep residents safe and brings total funding for remediation up to £1.6bn.

“I will not accept any excuses from building owners who have yet to take action and those responsible should register for the fund so that they can start the remediation process immediately. 

“I have also reached an agreement with local leaders so that this important work can continue safely during the pandemic.

“New statutory guidance published today also means that all new residential buildings over 11 metres tall will be fitted with sprinkler systems. “This is another critical part of our commitment to delivering the biggest changes to building safety for a generation.”

However, in a joint statement the National Leasehold Campaign, UK Cladding Action Group, Leasehold Knowledge Partnership and other cladding campaigners warned that the new fund would not go far enough.

The statement says: “While we welcome the release of money for the building safety program, we have serious concerns that this fund lacks the size and scope to truly solve the crisis we face and prevent a repeat of Grenfell. 

“We will not accept any leaseholders being left behind and will continue to fight until all homes are safe.

“The government’s own estimate to show that the fund will cover less than a third of the known non-ACM remediation work in the private residential sector which means that for many the cladding lottery will continue. 

“No price can be placed on human life. 

“Three years after Grenfell and with a profound mental health crisis affecting leaseholders around the country there can be no more partial measures. 

“We are calling on the government to do what is morally right and support all affected leaseholders. 

“The announcement that the fund will be allocated on a first come first serve basis will be a devastating blow to leaseholders across the country. “Furthermore such a short registration period immediately poses a problem for buildings that are still awaiting surveys. 

“We are calling for a non-discriminatory approach to funding, where leaseholders are not denied access to the fund as a result of inaction from the freeholder and managing agents. 

“Fire does not discriminate. 

“Today’s prospectus makes clear that buildings in desperate need of safety works which go beyond cladding removal and buildings that are less than 18m high will not receive any funding. 

“Nor will it cover the cost of interim measures. 

“Make no mistake all leaseholders regardless of funding will therefore remain on the heck for unmanageable bills. 

“We will continue to face the threat of bankruptcy from crippling costs of interim measures until their buildings are made safe, with a first come first served approach only serving to further penalise those at the back of the queue. 

“We are calling for all costs associated with cladding and fire safety defects to be covered by the fund to protect innocent leaseholders who are not responsible for these failings.”