The Future of Grenfell (1)

Demolition of the Tower

For years after the fire, Grenfell Tower remained standing, wrapped in a protective covering to preserve forensic evidence, while its future was debated. On 7 February 2025, the government announced its decision to carefully take down the tower, after then Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner had met bereaved families and survivors to tell them. The decision followed independent engineering advice that the structure was significantly damaged and would continue to deteriorate.

The decision was emotionally charged for the community. For some, the tower is a physical connection to loved ones lost; for others, it is a painful daily reminder of the tragedy. The Grenfell Next of Kin group acknowledged the government’s reasoning, while Grenfell United expressed frustration that families had not been fully consulted. Some survivors feared that taking the tower down would risk the fire being forgotten ^[R066].

In April 2025, the government gave notice that it intended to extend the existing site contract held by Deconstruct UK to cover the dismantling. Work began in September 2025 and is expected to take about two years. The Deputy Prime Minister committed to ensuring that materials and elements from the tower could be preserved for inclusion in the future memorial, if the community wished.

Sources: GOV.UK, Grenfell Tower announcement (7 February 2025) and community update (September 2025).

The Memorial: Progress and Vision

Community-Led Vision

The Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission’s terms of reference were published in September 2018, and it began its work in 2019, to ensure that bereaved families, survivors, and North Kensington residents lead the decision-making on the long-term future of the site. After years of community consultation, the Commission published its second report in November 2023, titled Remembering Grenfell: Recommendations and Next Steps to a Memorial ^[R068].

Design Competition

In July 2024, a design competition was launched. By January 2025, five teams were shortlisted: Curl La Tourelle + Head; Freehaus; George King Architects x Grow to Know; New South; and Office Sian. The London-based studio Freehaus, known for its community-led projects, was ultimately selected to develop the memorial design in close collaboration with the Grenfell community. Freehaus was appointed in November 2025. A final design, subject to planning approval, is expected in 2027.

Commission co-chair Lord Paul Boateng said in a 2024 interview with the RIBA Journal ^[R069] that the memorial must reflect the experience of a marginalised community and stand as a monument to the injustice they suffered.

Sources: Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission (2023) ^[R068]; design team announcement, 24 November 2025; RIBAJ interview, 2024 ^[R069].

Delayed Justice

Criminal Investigation

Perhaps the most painful aspect of the Grenfell aftermath is the protracted wait for criminal accountability. The Metropolitan Police opened a criminal investigation shortly after the fire in June 2017 and has been considering a range of potential offences including manslaughter, corporate manslaughter, misconduct in public office, and fire safety violations. However, the investigation has been enormously complex, involving 700 organisations, 165 million electronic files, and thousands of witness statements.

54

Individual suspects Referred to the CPS for charging decisions

20

Organisations Companies and other organisations identified as suspects

15,000+

Individuals examined Roles investigated by the police

700

Organisations examined Before narrowing down potential criminal responsibility

Police submitted all charging files to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on 30 September 2026. Charging decisions are expected before 14 June 2027.

Source: Metropolitan Police, 30 September 2026.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has stated openly that this timeline represents a situation where justice delayed is justice denied.

Additionally, in February 2025, seven organisations were flagged for investigation under the Procurement Act 2023. However, by July 2025, debarment investigations into Grenfell-linked suppliers were paused at the request of the CPS and Metropolitan Police, to avoid prejudicing the criminal proceedings. This further frustrated campaigners who have long demanded that companies found culpable be excluded from public contracts.

The Inquiry and Building Safety Reform

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 2 final report^[R015] was published on 4 September 2024. It attributed the disaster to decades of government failure, construction industry incompetence, and the deliberate marketing of unsafe cladding products by companies including Arconic, Celotex, and Kingspan. The inquiry formally closed on 10 February 2025, and the government published its official response on 26 February 2025, accepting 49 recommendations in full and nine in principle.

Key Reform Commitments

Single construction regulator

Legislation is planned between 2027 and 2029, when parliamentary time allows, with the regulator established in 2028–2029.

Product testing review

Comprehensive overhaul of building product testing regimes.

Emergency evacuation plans

Residential PEEPs requirements took effect in England in April 2026 for eligible residents in specified buildings.

Remediation progress

In the Autumn Budget 2024, the government announced £1 billion for cladding remediation in 2025–26. As of October 2025, 35% of the 5,570 buildings monitored by the government’s remediation programme had completed works, and about half had not started.

Sources: Grenfell Tower Inquiry government progress report, May 2026; MHCLG, Building Safety Remediation data release, October 2025; Autumn Budget 2024.