Michael Gove’s decision to reduce the height at which it requires new housing blocks to install a second staircase to 18 metres risks “significantly reducing” housing supply by piling extra costs and uncertainty on developers, according to a major industry body.

The Housing Forum has written to the housing secretary calling for urgent talks over the announcement, which came last month without any technical detail or transitional arrangements to allow developers, including housing associations, to plan for the changes.

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