<p><span>The government has confirmed that it will lower the threshold for proposed second staircases in new residential buildings to above 18 metres.</span></p> <p><span>As part of its <a href="http://www.house-builder.co.uk/news/gove-reveals-major-plans-new-home-delivery">plans for new homes delivery</a>, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) announced the height threshold </span><span>following confirmation of support from "expert bodies". T</span><span>he original proposal was for an </span><span>additional staircase to be built for safety purposes in residential buildings of above 30m. </span></p> <p><span>“This responds to the call from the sector for coherence and certainty,” DLUHC stated. “This is a considered and gradual evolution of safety standards, which, when taken with our other fire safety measures and reforms ensures the safety of people in all tall buildings – both new and existing.”</span></p> <p><span>The proposal for a second staircase for residential buildings above 30m was introduced in </span><a href="http://www.house-builder.co.uk/news/govt-proposes-second-staircase-towers-above-30m">DLUHC’s consultation released in December on informing future updates to Part B</a><span>. The consultation closed on March 17; the industry is still awaiting a government response.</span></p> <p><span>Speaking to </span><i>Housebuilder </i><span>earlier this year, Rhodri Williams, HBF’s technical and sustainability director, said that the intended change to staircases in high rise buildings was “hugely affecting schemes and their ability to move forward”.</span></p> <p><span>The requirement for …