Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea removes Siderise from policy decision

In a statement posted on its website on 17 July, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has observed: “In response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry reports, we adopted a policy banning certain suppliers and other companies from being used in our building and refurbishment projects. This policy has been updated so that Siderise Insulation Limited is no longer listed as a banned supplier.”

Companies who remain on the banned list at present include Arconic Architectural Products SAS, Celotex Ltd, Rydon Maintenance Ltd and Artelia Projects UK Ltd. As things stand, these businesses cannot be used by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s contractors as suppliers or sub-contractors on its own building and refurbishment projects.

Judicial review proceedings

Back in late February, Siderise initiated judicial review proceedings against the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The company was seeking withdrawal and reversal of the decision taken by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on 11 December last year, which had the effect of excluding Siderise’s products from building projects in the London Borough and was based on specific criteria outlined by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea surrounding the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

At that time, Siderise Insulation Ltd noted: “Given there is no suggestion in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry reports of dishonesty on the part of Siderise or any deficiencies in its products, the company should therefore not have been included in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s decision.”

Further, Maesteg-based Siderise was “acting to protect its reputation as a British manufacturer, which supplies its products globally.”

Formal response

Issuing a formal response to the news of the ban’s reversal on the company’s website, Siderise commented: “Following a judicial review process, Siderise is pleased to confirm that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has removed Siderise from a list of suppliers banned from being used on the Council’s building and refurbishment projects.”

The statement continues: “This decision reflects the fact that Siderise, as supported by the findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report, in no way contributed to the fire or its spread. Siderise was appalled by the dreadful disaster and loss of life at Grenfell Tower on 14 June 2017 and our sympathies continue to go out to the survivors and families of the bereaved.”

The company concludes: “Siderise is the UK’s leading external passive fire protection manufacturer with a mission to create safer buildings.”

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s contractor policy was brought forward in 2021. Several companies involved in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower were added to the Council’s list of excluded businesses.