The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Panel released its Phase 2 report yesterday following evidence from the families left bereaved and survivors, as well as industry professionals and former government ministers.
The 1,694-page public inquiry report concluded that the June 2017 fire at the west London block was the culmination of “decades of failure”. Companies from the commercial sector who supplied the cladding and insulation products wrapped around the tower block had shown “systematic dishonesty” and that the firms involved in its refurbishment bore considerable responsibility for the tragedy. It is not just companies highlighted in the report; testing and certification bodies like BRE and BBA and Local Authority Building Control (LABC) are also identified as contributors to the failings.
Inquiry Chair Martin Moore-Bick said in a statement that “The simple truth is that the deaths that occurred were all avoidable.”
The report also identified political failings, highlighting a move by David Cameron’s coalition government to cut red tape, which dominated thinking at the Department for Communities and Local Government at the expense of safety.
A team of 180 Met officers is investigating possible criminal charges and has gathered more than 27,000 pieces of evidence.
The inquiry calls for the introduction of a new single construction regulator, with one secretary of state overseeing it, as well as changes to the industry’s guidance on fire safety and material design.
The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, apologised and promised “radical action” to prevent any tragedy of this nature from happening again and has committed to reforming the construction products industry. In a BBC News interview today, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner outlined plans to accelerate remediation work in public and private buildings with a current funding pot of £5bn.
The inquiry has made 58 recommendations for the construction industry, the government, and firefighters. Although not legally binding, all organisations have promised to consider them.
You can read the full report here.
The BMA will examine the report and its implications for bathroom manufacturers in the next member-only issue of the Insights publication, due for release in December 2024.