Lambeth Council will claim back costs spent on replacing potentially dangerous cladding, after the government announced it would fund cladding costs across the country.

Lambeth Council spent £3.1 million testing all 31 blocks more than six storeys high, a cost that includes removing cladding from one building, and other associated work.

Three further blocks, which are owned and managed by Network Homes, failed tests.

Theresa May has said the government would meet the costs for councils and housing associations, committing £400 million to replace cladding from high-rise tower blocks.

A Lambeth Council spokesman said the council was pleased with the announcement and would be claiming back costs.

“Here in Lambeth we followed instructions from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Fire Brigade immediately following the Grenfell disaster, to protect the safety of our residents,” he said.

“We await to see the exact detail of the proposals and will of course be claiming back our costs.”

We are pleased that the government seems to have listened to the voice of local authorities up and down the country, including ours, and agreed to meet the costs associated with cladding removal.”

Lambeth Council leader Lib Peck has previously called on central government to meet the “significant costs.”

In a letter to Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, she said: “With the costs of cladding removals and reinstatement, plus actions taken to mitigate Fire Risk and provide greater assurances to residents who have also been scared at the often sensationalist media reporting, Lambeth is incurring significant costs. This is work that has been carried out as a result of DCLG guidance and in collaboration with the Fire Brigade following Grenfell, and as such I believe the costs associated should be met by central government.”

Network Homes has been contacted for comment.