UK housebuilding company Taylor Wimpey has set £125m aside for cladding and fire safety repairs in buildings that are deemed a risk to leaseholders.

The announcement comes after the Government pledged £3.5bn for the removal of unsafe cladding in high rise buildings above 18m. However, Taylor Wimpey have confirmed the funding will cover all apartments built in the last 20 years, including buildings below 18m.

Taylor Whimpey chief executive Pete Redfearn said: “Today we are announcing our intention to support building owners and leaseholders with fire safety investment to ensure their apartment buildings are safe and meet current EWS1 (External Wall Fire Review) requirements.

“This applies to Taylor Wimpey apartment buildings constructed over the last 20 years, including apartment buildings below 18 metres. We are making an additional £125m provision, to be booked in 2021, to cover this cost.”

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “This is the responsible approach that I expect developers across the country to take and I’m calling on others to do the right thing as well.”