Cladding Crisis: Vinci-Built Office Under Investigation After Cladding Falls in Blackpool

A newly built, £100 million office block in Blackpool is under investigation after a piece of cladding fell from its facade, raising serious questions about building safety and construction quality.

On January 7, 2026, staff were evacuated from the Fylde View building, a seven-story office development that houses around 3,000 civil servants for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The incident occurred when a section of the external brise soleil, a 4.2m long and 200mm deep fin, detached from the sixth floor and crashed to the pavement below. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the incident prompted immediate safety concerns and a swift response.

What Happened?

The Fylde View building, delivered by Blackpool Council in partnership with developer Muse and main contractor VINCI Building, had only been open since May 2025. The fallen material was a piece of brise soleil, an architectural feature designed to provide shade. The incident led to the immediate evacuation of the building and the establishment of a cordon around the affected area.

VINCI Building has issued an apology and launched a full investigation into the cause of the incident. The supplier of the brise soleil system and VINCI’s façade engineer are inspecting the site to determine the cause of the failure. As a precaution, VINCI Building is removing all brise soleil fins from the first to sixth floors.

The Wider Context: The Cladding Crisis in the UK

The Blackpool incident highlights the ongoing cladding crisis in the UK, a situation that has persisted since the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. The Grenfell tragedy exposed the widespread use of combustible cladding materials on high-rise buildings, raising serious concerns about fire safety and building regulations.

The Grenfell Tower fire on June 14, 2017, revealed that numerous buildings were clad in dangerously combustible materials, including flammable cladding and insulation. This led to a nationwide crisis, with flat owners facing extensive and costly remedial work, increased insurance premiums, and difficulty selling their properties.

Government Response and Legislation

In response to the cladding crisis, the UK government has introduced several measures, including:

The Building Safety Act 2022: This act aims to improve building safety standards and provides leaseholders with greater protection from cladding-related costs. Qualifying leaseholders are not liable for the cost of remediating cladding defects, with the government or developer covering the expenses.
The Building Safety Levy: Implemented in October 2026, this levy is expected to raise £3.4 billion over the next decade to fund cladding remediation.
Remediation Bill: This bill sets deadlines for the removal of unsafe cladding, with landlords facing fines or imprisonment for non-compliance. Buildings over 18 meters must have unsafe cladding removed by 2029, while those between 11 and 18 meters have until 2031.
Cladding Safety Scheme: Launched in July 2023, this scheme provides funding for buildings over 11 meters requiring cladding remediation.

Who is Responsible?

Determining responsibility for cladding defects is a complex legal issue. Several parties may be liable, including:

Developers: If the cladding defects arose from the original construction, the developer may be held responsible. The Responsible Actors Scheme holds major developers accountable for historical safety defects, particularly related to cladding.
Contractors: The contractor responsible for installing the cladding may be liable if the installation was defective.
Building Owners: Building owners have a legal obligation to ensure the safety of their properties. They may be liable if they fail to address known cladding defects.
Manufacturers: If the cladding materials were inherently defective, the manufacturer may be held responsible.

What are Your Rights?

If you own or live in a building with cladding defects, it is essential to understand your rights and take appropriate action.

Qualifying Leaseholders: Under the Building Safety Act, qualifying leaseholders are protected from cladding-related costs. You should not pay any outstanding invoices for historical cladding or non-cladding building safety costs caused during construction or refurbishment.
Non-Qualifying Leaseholders: If you do not qualify for leaseholder protections, the developer of your building may still be liable for repair work if they have signed the Building Safety Pledge.
Building Owners’ Obligations: Building owners have obligations to ensure building safety, including conducting fire risk assessments and addressing fire safety defects. Failure to perform these obligations can result in remediation orders or contribution orders.

Seeking Legal Advice

Navigating the complexities of cladding claims requires expert legal advice. Consulting with a personal injury solicitor can help you understand your rights and options. A solicitor can:

Assess the circumstances of your case and advise on potential claims.
Gather evidence to support your claim, including building surveys, fire risk assessments, and expert reports.
Negotiate with the responsible parties to reach a settlement.
Represent you in court if necessary.

The Future of Building Safety

The cladding crisis has highlighted the need for a comprehensive overhaul of building safety regulations and practices. The government is implementing new measures to improve building safety, but it is crucial to ensure that these measures are effective and that those responsible for cladding defects are held accountable.

The Fylde View incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of cladding defects and the importance of ongoing vigilance in building safety. As investigations continue and remedial works are carried out, it is hoped that lessons will be learned and that steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

If you have been affected by the cladding crisis, do not hesitate to seek legal advice. A personal injury solicitor can help you understand your rights and pursue a claim for compensation.