The author of the government’s review of fire safety regulations has said the construction industry lacks the leadership to make the necessary changes to make itself safe, describing common practices as “jaw dropping”.

Speaking at a conference for the construction products manufacturing industry, Judith Hackitt, who has just been chosen to lead the board creating a new building safety regulator, said the industry fell back on “excuses” to justify its inability to improve. 

Her comments last week came in the wake of the restart of the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire, in which many of the firms involved have sought to blame other companies or the government for the failure of the tower’s refurbishment to meet the requirements of building regulations.

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