Government launches new Interim Measures Alarm Fund

The Government has announced a new £62.7 million funding initiative to install fire alarm systems in at‑risk residential buildings waiting to be remediated, aiming to improve resident safety, reduce costs to leaseholders and accelerate permanent remediation across higher‑risk housing. This programme replaces the Waking Watch Replacement Fund (“WWRF”) which closed for new applications on 31 March 2026 and will be delivered through the Cladding Safety Scheme, with a stated commitment to speeding up building safety works in the wake of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

What the new funding covers and who benefits

The fund is intended to support the installation of appropriate fire alarm systems in buildings assessed as at risk, thereby reducing reliance on interim measures such as waking watch and simultaneous evacuation arrangements. For residents and leaseholders, the principal benefits are improved safety, reduced disruption, and savings where costly interim measures such as ongoing waking watch or temporary alarm charges can be stood down once alarms are commissioned and competent fire risk management is in place.

Transition from the Waking Watch Replacement Fund

The new scheme replaces the WWRF which closed on 31 March 2026 and marks a clear policy shift towards a more integrated long-term approach within the Government’s wider building safety programme. The intention is to end prolonged dependence on waking watch by providing a long-term funded pathway to the use of alarms whilst residents and leaseholders wait for remediation to be completed.

Role of the Cladding Safety Scheme

Homes England via the Cladding Safety Scheme will deliver the new fund. Consolidating delivery within the Scheme is intended to minimise duplication, streamline decision‑making, align incentives and improve delivery timelines so that buildings move more quickly from interim risk controls to completed remediation.

Connection to the Remediation Acceleration Plan

The initiative sits within the objectives of the Remediation Acceleration Plan (“RAP”), which seeks to:

• speed up the identification, procurement, and completion of cladding and related fire safety works;
• reduce resident exposure to interim risk; and
• drive consistency and accountability across responsible parties.

In the July 2025 RAP 2 update, the Government revealed its intention to establish a new, long-term fund to run continuously throughout the duration of its remediation schemes. This initiative has led to the creation of the Interim Measures Alarm Fund.

Commitment following the Grenfell Tower Inquiry

The announcement reiterates the Government’s commitment to accelerating remediation and enhancing resident safety in response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The policy focus remains on eliminating unsafe external wall systems and addressing wider fire safety defects, while ensuring that interim protections are effective, proportionate, and not treated as a long‑term substitute for permanent works. The new fund is framed as part of a broader programme to prioritise residents’ safety and confidence in their homes.

Next steps and practical points

Building owners and responsible entities should prepare by confirming current fire risk assessments, documenting interim measures and associated costs, and identifying where a funded alarm installation would enable safe de‑escalation of waking watch or similar arrangements. Leaseholders may wish to engage with their building owner or managing agent to understand proposed applications and the anticipated impact on service charges and timelines for remediation.

If you have questions about the announcement and/or the Building Safety Act, please contact Paula Garnett or any other member of our Construction Team.