Grenfell Tower News

The latest Grenfell Tower related news from PBC Today and the UK construction sector.

The cladding fund was established in the aftermath of the Grenfell disaster

£500,000 likely lost to cladding fund fraud, says NAO

An NAO report and MHCLG investigation has found around half a million pounds has been lost to fraud from the cladding fund. Learn more here.
The Grenfell disaster kickstarted an intensive programme in cladding remediation

Cladding remediation to cost more than £16bn according to NAO

The NAO has released a report detailing how far behind in cladding remediation the government has fallen. Find more details here.
Cladding remediation has been slow since Grenfell tower burned

Parliamentary committee to investigate cladding remediation

A parliamentary investigation into cladding remediation post-Grenfell is being launched. Find out more about the purpose of the enquiry here.
Grenfell Tower, London, a high-rise building, showing severe fire damage and broken windows against a clear blue sky after the fire of 14 June 2017.

Grenfell: Systemic failures are still happening on our watch

Seven years after the tragic Grenfell fire, Mike Leonard, visiting professor at Birmingham City University’s Centre for Future Homes is calling for a united response from the UK housing industry to the failures outlined in the Grenfell Inquiry’s final report
The burnt-out remains of the Grenfell tower behind the Ivory spire, the ultimate cause of the CIAT briefing

CIAT briefing: makes recommendations for architects post-Grenfell

A CIAT briefing has been published, outlining recommendations for best practices for professionals in architectural technology after Grenfell.
Build Warranty has been closely following the impact of the Grenfell Inquiry and the growing demand for reputable structural warranties

How Build Warranty’s structural warranties and expert surveyors are meeting post-Grenfell challenges

At Build Warranty, we have been closely monitoring the impact of the Grenfell Inquiry on the construction sector, particularly in relation to safety, accountability, and the growing demand for reputable structural warranties.
CARES' chief executive has called to scrap paper-based certification for steel and other construction materials in favour of for "secure, fully digital formats" in light of the second Grenfell report

We cannot rely on paper-based certification post-Grenfell, says CARES

The chief executive of the UK Certification Authority for Reinforcing Steels (CARES) has said that paper-based certification can no longer be relied on after the failings that led to Grenfell, calling for "secure, fully digital formats".
The UK construction industry is reflecting on the Phase 2 Grenfell Inquiry report, which identified failings in government and industry

Construction industry reacts to the Phase 2 Grenfell Inquiry report

The UK construction industry is reflecting on the findings of the Phase 2 Grenfell Inquiry report, which found "systemic dishonesty" from both building control professionals and manufacturers.
The final Grenfell Inquiry report contains 1,700 pages on the failings that led to the 2017 fire, as well as policy and legal recommendations

“Decades of failure…systematic dishonesty”: Final Grenfell Inquiry report released

The final report from the Grenfell Inquiry contains 1,700 pages documenting the failings that led to the 2017 fire, as well as recommendations for Government and industry.
The Grenfell disaster was a result of unsafe cladding

Data shows 2,300 residential buildings still have unsafe cladding

The latest government data shows that there are 2,300 residential buildings 11m or higher that still need remediation work on unsafe cladding.
The building safety report examines safety in the wake of the grenfell fire

CLC publishes building safety report ahead of Grenfell report

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published their Building Safety Report, analysing safety ahead of the final Grenfell report.
Aerial view of the area where the Dagenham Tower blaze occurred

Fire ruins Dagenham tower block during construction work

A major incident saw a fire causing the mass evacuation of the Spectrum Building in Dagenham, London, over the weekend, as it underwent construction work.

Submissions open for Grenfell Tower memorial design

The Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission and RIBA have opened up submissions to select the team that will design the future memorial on the site of Grenfell Tower.
Remediation works on 1,088 of the 4,374 buildings identified in England with dangerous cladding are now complete, according to the DLUHC

Quarter of cladding remediation projects in England complete

Remediation works on 1,088 of the 4,374 buildings identified in England with dangerous cladding have now been completed, according to the DLUHC.
On the seventh anniversary of the Grenfell tragedy, Quelfire looks at the changes it has brought in the built environment

Seven years on from Grenfell – has anything changed?

On the seventh anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, Quelfire looks back at the changes brought about in the built environment as a result of the tragedy- and looks to the future.
As a date is set for the publication of the phase 2 report on the Grenfell Tower fire for 4th September, Metropolitan Police have confirmed they do not expect to begin prosecutions until 2027 at the earliest

Grenfell Tower fire prosecutions not expected until 2027

As a date is set for the publication of the phase 2 report on the Grenfell Tower fire for 4th September, Metropolitan Police have confirmed they do not expect to begin prosecutions until 2027 at the earliest.
A UN Human Rights Committee has urged the Government to do more to rectify unsafe cladding and conduct "effective investigations" on Grenfell

UPDATED: UN human rights body slams unsafe cladding as “potential violations of the right...

The UN Human Rights Committee has called on the UK Government to do more to remediate unsafe cladding, describing the circumstances that led to the Grenfell fire as "potential violations of the right to life and human dignity".
London, UK 14th June 2022. Grenfell Tower memorial detail.

Seventh anniversary of Grenfell fire will pass with second report still pending

The team leading the Grenfell Tower Inquiry have confirmed that the report will not be published before the seventh anniversary of the fire.
Minister for Housing, Planning and Building Safety, Lee Rowley MP, spoke at a debate on building safety enforcement

Councils “need to do more” on building safety enforcement, says housing minister

Minister for Housing, Planning and Building Safety, Lee Rowley MP, spoke at a debate on building safety enforcement on Tuesday 26th March.
golden-thread

No deadlines to be set for golden-thread sharing

The government will not set a deadline for people to share golden-thread information with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).
Green emergency exit sign or fire exit sign showing the way to escape with arrow symbol, represetnting building safety

Enhancing building safety through the reinforcement of fire-resistant structures

In this article,  Ian King, COO, Zeroignition explores how the industry can improve practices and prioritise building safety post-Grenfell Tower disaster.
High rise residential building of flats with cladding being replaced with fire resistant materials UK

Enforcing the golden thread of information under the Building Safety Act 2022

Discover what the golden thread of information means for building owners and managers, as well as how it will be enforced under the Building Safety Act 2022.
Grenfell Tower - Cladding companies

Government threatens cladding companies who refuse to remediate with severe consequences

Three cladding companies, whose poor practices were uncovered by the Grenfell Inquiry, have been warned by the government that they will face “severe consequences” if they do not provide a comprehensive financial package to fix unsafe buildings.
London, UK - July 5, 2017: Part of the top floors of the Grenfell Tower block of council flats in which at least 80 people are thought to have been killed following a fire in Kensington, West London.

Gove calls for Kingspan meeting to discuss cladding compensation

The UK government has called for a meeting with Kingspan, the manufacturer of combustible insulation used on Grenfell Tower, to discuss cladding compensation.
Fire Safety (England) Regulations

How will the new Fire Safety (England) Regulations improve fire safety compliance?

This week (23 January 2023), the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 came into force. In this article, PBC Today explores what the new laws mean for fire safety compliance in the UK.
engineer dermonstrating building safety act

Building Safety Act: Do safer buildings mean a better construction industry?

In this article, Actuate UK, the engineering services alliance, explores the updated Building Safety Act, what this means for the engineering sector, and how the industry can be held responsible for upholding safer buildings and thrive.