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4 hours ago
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Seven organisations involved in the Grenfell Tower disaster face possible debarment from government contracts as ministers set out plans to improve building safety and strengthen accountability.
The government has accepted the findings of the final Grenfell Tower inquiry report and pledged to take action on all the recommendations.
Measures will include the introduction of a single regulator for construction, to tackle fragmentation in the system. Fire safety will be brought under one department, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The official fire safety guidance, known as Approved Document B (ADB), will be reviewed and revised, and the definition of “higher-risk building” in law will also be revised.
Debarment investigations will be launched for seven organisations named in the report using measures under the Procurement Act, and if certain grounds are met, their names will be added to a published debarment list, which must be taken into account by contracting authorities when awarding new contracts.
In addition, it has launched a construction products green paper for consultation, setting out detailed proposals for actions to address the critical gaps revealed by the inquiry and independent reviews in the testing and compliance regime for products used on buildings.
As part of that green paper it is consulting on measures to introduce liability sanctions and penalties, including fines and imprisonment against manufacturers in the future to ensure that they know they will be held to account with proportionate consequences.
The Grenfell Tower inquiry phase two 1,700-page report, released on 4 September, contained 58 recommendations, of which the government accepted 49 in full and nine in principle, and pledged to act on all.
The 2017 fire killed 72 people, with cladding found to be the principal reason for the rapid spread.
Publishing the government response, the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, said: “The Grenfell Tower tragedy claimed 72 innocent lives in a disaster that should never have happened. The final report exposed in stark and devastating detail the shocking industry behaviour and wider failures that led to the fire, and the deep injustices endured by the bereaved, survivors and residents.
“We are acting on all of the inquiry’s findings, and today set out our full response, detailing the tough action we are taking to drive change and reform the system to ensure no community will ever have to face a tragedy like Grenfell again.
“That means greater accountability, stronger regulation and putting residents at the heart of decision-making. We must deliver the fundamental change required. We owe that to the Grenfell community, to the country and to the memory of those who lost their lives.”
Other measures announced include:
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Consulting on a new college of fire and rescue later in 2025 to improve training and professionalism of firefighters.
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Stopping unqualified individuals from making critical fire safety decisions, by legally requiring fire risk assessors to have their competence certified.
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Continuing implementation of a new residential personal emergency evacuation plan policy to improve the fire safety and evacuation of disabled and vulnerable residents in high-rise and higher-risk residential buildings, engaging with relevant stakeholders on the implementation.
The response seeks to implement a legal duty of candour through a new Hillsborough law, compelling public authorities to disclose the truth, ensuring transparency in major incidents and holding to account those responsible for failures.
It also pledges stronger, clearer and enforceable legal rights for residents, making landlords responsible for acting on safety concerns, and empowering social housing residents to challenge landlords and demand safe, high-quality housing, by expanding the Four Million Homes training programme.
The government has committed to publishing progress reports every quarter from mid-2025, and providing an annual update to parliament to ensure wider scrutiny of the pace and direction of work.
The building safety minister, Alex Norris, said: “The Grenfell Tower fire was a preventable tragedy, and the failings it exposed demanded fundamental change.
“Our response today to the inquiry’s findings sets out a comprehensive plan to reform the construction sector, strengthen oversight and make sure that residents are the priority when deciding on building safety issues.
“We will continue working closely with industry, local authorities and the Grenfell community to make sure these reforms deliver real, lasting change and rebuild trust.”
