The Commons HCLG letter has urged the government to implement key actions following the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. It has stressed the need for robust measures, likely including independent oversight for recommendations, addressing building safety regulator capacity, delays in remediation, and ensuring resident engagement to prevent future tragedies.
On May 16, 1968, a gas explosion caused the partial collapse of Ronan Point, a 22-storey tower block in East London. The disaster claimed four lives and injured 17 others — a stark tragedy that forced a nationwide reckoning with construction practices, structural design, and safety protocols.
The UK government redefined a Higher-Risk Building (HRB) as 18 metres or 7 storeys and above, diverging from Dame Judith Hackitt’s original recommendation of 30 metres, primarily due to several political, practical, and safety-driven factors that emerged post-Grenfell.
On May 17, 2018, Dame Judith Hackitt published the final version of her “Building a Safer Future” report, in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Seven years later, we assess the changes made in building safety and the challenges that persist for industry and residents.
50 months post-Grenfell we are living on borrowed time with Building Safety. Immediate solutions to stabilise the situation are long overdue.
The UK Government is now consulting on a proposal to introduce a new residential property developer tax aimed at raising £2bn over 10 years – have your say here