Grenfell Tower to be “carefully taken down” confirms Government

The Government has commented: “This is a deeply personal matter for the people affected and the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to keeping their voice at the heart of this process. She recognises how difficult it is for them and her priority has been to let them know her decision first.”   

The Deputy Prime Minister has prioritised engagement with the Grenfell community since her appointment in July. Last November, Rayner explained to families that she would listen to their views and consider expert information before making a decision on the future of the structure in February. From November, Rayner offered the bereaved and survivors the opportunity to meet in-person in North Kensington and Whitehall, or online, at different times and individually when families felt more comfortable with this situation.

Further, the Deputy Prime Minister spent time with representative groups, residents’ associations, schools and faith leaders in the Grenfell community. Rayner is “grateful to everyone who shared their views” (whether directly with her or other officials) and notably so the bereaved and survivors.

Of course, Grenfell Tower was the home of the 72 innocent people who lost their lives on 14 June 2017, and of the survivors whose lives were forever changed by the tragedy. It’s clear from the conversations that have taken place that it remains a sacred site. It’s also clear that there isn’t a consensus about what should happen to the location.

For some, Grenfell Tower is a symbol of all that they lost. The presence of the building helps to ensure the tragedy is never forgotten and can act as a reminder of the need for justice and accountability. Being able to view Grenfell Tower every day helps some individuals continue to feel close to those whom they lost. For others, the structure remains a painful reminder of what happened and is having a daily impact on some members of the community. Some have suggested that certain floors should be retained for the memorial, while others have voiced the view that this would be too painful.  

Expert advice

The Deputy Prime Minister has considered independent expert advice on the matter. Engineering advice suggests that the building is significantly damaged. The structure remains stable because of the measures put in place to protect it, but even with the installation of additional props, the condition of the building will continue to worsen over time. Engineers also advise that it’s not practicable to retain many of the floors of the building in place as part of a memorial that must last in perpetuity.

Taking this engineering advice into account, the Deputy Prime Minister concluded that it would not be fair to keep some floors of the building that are significant to some families, while not being able to do so for others and knowing that, for some, this would be deeply upsetting.

Next steps

The Government is committed to taking the next steps respectfully and carefully. There will be continued support for, and engagement with, the Grenfell community throughout the process. There will be no changes to the structure before the eighth anniversary this summer. 

In the coming months, the Government will confirm the specialist contractor that will develop a detailed plan for taking down Grenfell Tower. The work will be led by technical experts with specific Health and Safety responsibilities and abide by a methodology that includes environmental and Health and Safety measures and a detailed programme of work.

The Government estimates that it will likely take around two years to sensitively take down Grenfell Tower through a process of careful and sensitive progressive deconstruction that happens behind the wrapping.

Further, the Government continues to support the independent Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission as the community chooses a design team to work with them on creating a fitting memorial. The Deputy Prime Minister will ensure that materials from the site, communal areas and parts of the structure can be carefully removed and returned for inclusion as part of the Grenfell Tower Memorial if the community wishes.

Continued commitment

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has regularly consulted with the Metropolitan Police Service, His Majesty’s Coroner and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Panel to ensure decisions about the site do not interfere with their important work in pursuit of justice and accountability. The Metropolitan Police Service and His Majesty’s Coroner have again recently confirmed they have everything that they need.

The Deputy Prime Minister’s commitment to the Grenfell community continues. Rayner will ensure that bereaved families, survivors and residents continue to have opportunities to speak with her and Alex Norris (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the appointed Government minister responsible for building safety) on issues that matter to them the most.

Grenfell United responds

Grenfell United (the pressure group made up of the families of victims and survivors of the tragedy) has released a particularly strong and hard-hitting statement in response to the Government’s decision.

“The Government has engaged with fewer than ten of the bereaved and survivors on this matter. With such a wide range of viewpoints across all affected families, we struggle to understand why this decision would be pushed through so quickly.”

The statement continues: “Given what we went through, safety has always been paramount. We have had previous assurances that Grenfell Tower can be kept safe for as long as it needs to be, and that it poses no risk to the community around it.”

Grenfell United also asserts: “Given the limited legislation passed since the Grenfell Tower fire to keep people safe in their homes, the glacial process of removing flammable cladding and the daily reports of the links between the Government and the construction industry, it seems to us that removing Grenfell Tower from the skyline while the Public Inquiry and police investigation still continues only serves those accused or those that haven’t acted.”

The pressure group asks: “How can Grenfell Tower be demolished before the legal process concludes when no Judge in the land can confirm that this will not hinder future criminal prosecutions?”

Grenfell United concludes: “Justice is important to us all and anything that may prevent justice must not be an option. Many members of the Grenfell community accept the removal of Grenfell Tower will always be a case of ‘when’ and not ‘if’, but the timeline needs to be decided by the bereaved, survivors and community, not the Government. The latter has done nothing to make the changes needed to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.”