A Disaster Foretold
A common misconception is that the Grenfell fire came without warning. In reality, residents had been raising serious concerns about building safety for years, and were repeatedly ignored.
Between 2014 and 2016, Grenfell Tower was renovated as part of a wider redevelopment around Lancaster Green. The new Kensington Leisure Centre had been built to the east, and the football pitches to the north were earmarked for Kensington Academy. The renovation aimed to replace the substandard heating system, install new windows, improve thermal efficiency, and update the tower’s appearance to complement the new academy.
But the refurbishment introduced new dangers rather than fixing old ones. Cladding was installed to improve energy efficiency and aesthetics, but residents quickly grew suspicious. The materials felt cheap to the touch, and many questioned whether corners had been cut. Fears emerged that the cladding might be flammable, concerns that were dismissed by both contractors and management.
The Grenfell Action Group (GAG), a small group of determined local residents, began documenting these problems. Their blog became a public record of what they were witnessing and how their attempts to raise issues were repeatedly brushed aside.
Their posts grew more urgent over time, not just in tone, but in clarity. In 2013, they warned of “serious fire safety concerns.” In 2016, after yet another failed attempt to prompt action, they wrote:
“It is our conviction that a serious fire in a tower block… is the most likely reason that those who wield power… will be found out and brought to justice!”
Grenfell Action Group blog, November 2016
This extract from a Sky News report on the first tribunal highlighted the legitimacy of residents’ concerns.
Grenfell resident Edward Daffarn gives a powerful account of the warnings he and other residents raised, highlighting long-ignored safety concerns and the systemic failures that preceded the fire.