Government Responds to Grenfell Tower Inquiry

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27 February 2025

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has responded to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report. The government has accepted the inquiry's findings and plans to act on all 58 recommendations. Let’s take a look at the key points you should be aware of:

 

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A Construction Regulator

 

The government has accepted the inquiry’s recommendation to introduce a construction regulator, a single body which will be responsible for:

 

• Assessing how construction products conform to legislation, statutory guidance and industry standards
• Issuing certificates for the above
• Managing a licensing scheme for contractors working on the construction or refurbishment of higher-risk buildings.
• Sponsoring the development of a “cladding materials library” to allow better access to information, resources and test results

 

This regulator will have oversight across the whole building system, with the intention that it can identify patterns of risks and issues.

 

Panel to Examine Building Control Function Provision 

 

An independent panel to consider whether it is in the public interest for building control functions to be performed by those who have a commercial interest in the process will be established. This panel will recommend which bodies should carry out certain functions, as well as whether all building control functions should be performed by a national authority.

 

Redefining Higher Risk Buildings

 

Through the establishment of the Building Safety Act, an initial definition of a higher-risk building was set. However, the inquiry recommended that the definition of a higher-risk building is reviewed urgently.

It’s currently defined as buildings of a height of 18 metres or more or comprising more than six storeys, but the government will now set out plans for its ongoing review in the summer of 2025.

 

Appointment of a Chief Construction Adviser 

 

The Secretary of State will appoint a Chief Construction Adviser to advise the construction industry and inform the government of matters affecting building regulations and statutory guidance

 

Recognition of the Fire Engineer Profession

 

The fire engineer profession will be recognised and protected by law, and an independent body will be established to regulate the profession. The government will also increase the number of places on high-quality Masters level courses in fire engineering accredited by the professional regulator.

 

Appropriate Temporary Accommodation 

 

The inquiry deems the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s response to the fire as “inadequate” as it did not have effective plans to deal with the mass displacement of a large number of people from their homes. Many Muslim residents felt that there was no consideration that Ramadan was being observed at the time and that there was “no regard for their cultural and religious needs.”

The government accepts that local authorities should, as far as practically possible,  place people in temporary accommodation in ways that meet their personal, religious and cultural requirements. 

Picture: a photograph of the top of Grenfell Tower showing a green heart and the words "Grenfell, forever in our hearts" Image Credit: Unsplash

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 27 February 2025

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