December 2020
As part of its move to support thousands of residents in high-rise buildings, the government has announced a £30 million fund to help end excessive waking watch costs.
The new Waking Watch Relief Fund will pay for the installation of fire alarm systems in high-rise buildings with cladding. The installation of fire alarm systems will remove or reduce the need for costly interim fire safety measures such as round-the-clock fire safety wardens.
The National Fire Chiefs Council has advised in recent guidance that building owners should move to install common fire alarm systems as quickly as possible to reduce or remove the dependence on waking watches.
The Waking Watch Relief Fund will open in January 2021 , but will also provide immediate, emergency support to Wicker Riverside Apartments in Sheffield to ensure that the 35 recently evacuated families should be able to return to their homes before Christmas.
In addition to the Walking Watch Relief Fund, the government has also announced a 6-month extension to the deadline for building owners to complete their applications to the £1 billion Building Safety Fund. The new deadline for submissions is 30th June 2021.
The Walking Watch Relief Fund opened for applications on the 31st January 2021.
Further information:
- Waking Watch Relief Fund Re-opened to applications
- £30 million Waking Watch Relief Fund now open for applications
- What is waking watch?
- What is the waking watch relief fund?
- What will the waking watch relief fund cover?
- Which buildings will be eligible for the waking watch relief fund?
- Who is responsible for applying for the waking watch relief fund?
- When will the waking watch relief fund open?