The remains of Grenfell Tower, the west London tower block in which 72 people died in a fire, are to be demolished over a two-year period starting after the eight-year anniversary of the 2017 disaster.
The housing secretary, Angela Rayner, formally announced the decision on Friday after informing bereaved families and survivors earlier this week.
On 14 June 2017, the high-rise block in North Kensington was engulfed in flames, killing 70 people, with another two people dying later in hospital.
The final report of the Grenfell Tower inquiry, published in September, concluded the disaster was the result of “decades of failure” by the government and the construction industry to act on the dangers of flammable materials on high-rise buildings.
In a statement, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, said there would be no changes to the tower before the eighth anniversary, and in the coming months the government would confirm the specialist contractor that would develop a detailed plan for taking down the tower.
“It will likely take around two years to sensitively take down the tower through a process of careful and sensitive progressive deconstruction that happens behind the wrapping,” it said.
Grenfell United, which represents some bereaved people and survivors, earlier this week said it appeared “no one supported” the government’s decision to demolish the block, with some backing a proposal to keep it as a memorial.
The group added: “Ignoring the voices of bereaved on the future of our loved ones’ grave site is disgraceful and unforgivable.”
A spokesperson for Grenfell Next of Kin, a separate group representing some bereaved families, said that while the decision was “obviously a very sensitive and difficult” one, families “understand the hard facts around safety”.
The ministry said it was not practicable or fair to keep some floors as a memorial. It added: “For some, Grenfell Tower is a symbol of all that they lost. The presence of the tower helps to ensure the tragedy is never forgotten and can act as a reminder of the need for justice and accountability.
“Being able to see the tower every day helps some people continue to feel close to those they lost. For others it is a painful reminder of what happened and is having a daily impact on some members of the community.
“Some have suggested that some floors of the tower should be retained for the memorial, others have said that this would be too painful.”
The ministry said it would continue to work with the independent Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission as the community chooses a team to design a memorial.
Downing Street said Rayner would ensure bereaved families, survivors and residents “continue to have opportunities to speak with her” about “issues that matter to them most”.
She had met and spoken with Grenfell survivors and bereaved, and other community figures, in recent months before making the decision, No 10 said. It also denied she had attempted to avoid scrutiny by making the announcement via a press release.
“The deputy prime minister has been clear on her determination to speak with survivors and bereaved families first, and it was important to ensure the community had heard the decision first,” Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said.
“She has had multiple engagements with the community, the bereaved and the families affected since taking office. I think that demonstrates our commitment to this, and she is committed to keeping those voices at the heart of the decision-making process.”
Asked why, given this, some had criticised the decision, the spokesperson said there was “clearly a range of views on this” in the community.
In May 2024, prosecutors and police said investigators would need until the end of 2025 to complete their inquiry into the Grenfell disaster, with final decisions on potential criminal charges by the end of 2026.
Article by:Source: Jamie Grierson and Peter Walker
