Healthcare and education buildings top public safety concerns in the UK

Survey reveals UK public concerns over building safety and maintenance

SFG20 has published the results of its Building Safety Survey 2024, highlighting public concerns over the safety and maintenance of buildings across the UK.

The survey, conducted with over 1,500 participants from 15 major UK cities, found that more than half of respondents were concerned about the condition of schools and hospitals.

The study also examined public confidence in government efforts to address structural and maintenance issues in public buildings.

The findings indicate that concerns over building safety have increased in recent years, particularly following events such as the Grenfell Tower fire and the discovery of RAAC concrete in schools.

Healthcare and education buildings rank highest in public concerns

The survey found that hospitals and care homes were the public’s highest priorities for building improvements.

Seventy-four percent of respondents said hospitals should be the primary focus for government action, followed by care homes (57%) and primary schools (56%).

More than 60% of respondents expressed concerns about the maintenance of healthcare facilities, particularly among those aged 35 to 44, where 68% reported worries over hospital safety.

In the education sector, 56% of participants raised concerns about the condition of school buildings, with 11% of parents reporting issues related to structural integrity at their child’s school.

Regional differences in building safety concerns

The survey identified regional variations in concerns over building safety.

London had the highest level of concern, with 69% of respondents expressing worries about local building conditions.

Manchester (58%) and Leicester (55%) also reported high levels of concern, while Bristol, Sheffield, and Liverpool ranked hospitals as the top priority for government intervention.

The survey also found that 19% of respondents had concerns about the health and safety of the buildings they lived in, with residents of Cardiff (25%), Southampton (25%), and Glasgow (23%) reporting the highest levels of worry.

Public perceptions of government efforts on building safety

The survey assessed public confidence in government efforts to improve building safety.

Almost one-third (31%) of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the government’s handling of the issue.

Two in five respondents expressed doubts that high-rise buildings in their area met current safety standards.

The highest level of distrust was recorded in Belfast, where 48% of residents said they did not believe local high-rises complied with regulations.

Newcastle, Birmingham, and Liverpool were identified as the areas where residents were most dissatisfied with government actions to maintain public buildings.

Survey reveals UK public concerns over building safety and maintenance: Summary

SFG20 has published findings from the Building Safety Survey 2024, which surveyed over 1,500 people across 15 UK cities on their perceptions of building safety and maintenance.

The survey found that more than half of respondents were concerned about school and hospital buildings.

Seventy-four percent of participants said hospitals should be the government’s priority for improvement, followed by care homes (57%) and primary schools (56%).

London recorded the highest level of concern (69%), followed by Manchester (58%) and Leicester (55%).

Nearly one in five respondents said they had concerns about the safety of their home, with Cardiff, Southampton, and Glasgow reporting the highest levels of worry.

The survey also found that 31% of respondents were dissatisfied with government efforts to improve building safety, with 40% expressing doubts that high-rise buildings in their area met current safety standards.