The Government should consider compulsory purchase of private tower blocks still wrapped in Grenfell-style cladding, a London Assembly member claims.

Andrew Dismore, who chairs the Assembly fire committee, says urgent action is needed to protect vulnerable residents still living in dangerous blocks.

Seventy-two residents died when fire spread rapidly through the aluminium composite (ACM) cladding on Grenfell Tower in June 2017.

But private building owners in London have yet to cash a single penny from a £200 million Government fund to help them strip dangerous ACM cladding from homes.

The scheme opened in September 2019 – more than two years after Grenfell Tower fire – with City Hall responsible for doling out the Government funds.

But less than £50,000 has been allocated to privately owned buildings so far, a question from Mr Dismore to the Mayor has revealed.

And in his written response, Sadiq Khan said none of this money has actually been transferred to building owners – because while his team are “working hard”, ultimately “pace is dictated by the applicant”.

At least 58 private tower blocks in the capital are eligible for the funding, meaning residents are still at risk from flammable cladding.

The Government has announced that building owners who do not take action to make their residents safe will be named and shamed.

But Mr Dismore said the near “total inactivity” on private buildings was “symptomatic” of the Government’s approach after Grenfell.

He said: “These delays are completely unfair on leaseholders who are left living in buildings wrapped in a material that is so dangerous it’s now been banned outright.

He added: “I agree with the Government that building owners who are dragging their feet should be named and shamed, but this should have been happening right from the start.

“We’re now two and a half years on from the Grenfell fire, and the Government should be considering all options, including compulsory purchase, where building owners are leaving residents at risk.”

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government was approached for comment.