Seven years on from the Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people, legislation enacted to end Britain's building safety crisis and tackle the issue of dangerous cladding is not being enforced, Sky News can reveal. A report following a public inquiry is released today.
Legal powers introduced since the Grenfell Tower fire to force building owners to fix serious fire safety issues are being ignored. One of the UK's first Building Remediation Orders, issued by a judge last year, gave the owners of a block of flats in Bristol six months to fix serious fire safety defects including removing dangerous Grenfell-style insulation. The court's deadline has now passed and nothing has been done, leaving residents fearful in their homes.
As a major report is published today to name and shame those responsible for the devastating fire at Grenfell Tower that killed 72 people on 14 June 2017, there are still hundreds of thousands of people living in buildings they know to be unsafe. Seven years on from the disaster, legislation enacted to end Britain's building safety crisis has failed to be enforced. At least 3,280 buildings are known to still have unsafe cladding, with only 949 of those having started works, according to the latest government data.
Buildings Remain Unsafe Despite Laws
The Building Safety Act, which was drawn up in the wake of the Grenfell fire and took effect in 2023, placed responsibility on building owners to replace defective materials. However, many building owners are neglecting their legal obligations, leaving residents in a precarious situation. Cases like that of Orchard House in Bristol, where the owner has refused to engage with the safety issues, are sadly not unique. This lack of enforcement and accountability is a stark reminder of the ongoing failure to address the building safety crisis in the UK.
The Ongoing Struggle for Safety
While the government has introduced legislation and schemes to help fund remedial works, these are proving ineffective. Many building owners are delaying or avoiding repairs altogether, leaving residents trapped in unsafe and unsellable properties. The government's reliance on building owners to initiate the repairs is a major flaw, as it empowers them to prioritize their own interests over the safety of residents. The story of Orchard House highlights the need for greater accountability and stronger enforcement mechanisms to ensure that building owners are held responsible for their actions.
A National Crisis
The problem extends far beyond Bristol. Thousands of buildings across the country are still waiting for repairs, and the issue is not confined to private developments. In Birmingham, residents of Liberty Place, a high-rise canal-side development owned by Lendlease, are living with banned aluminium composite (ACM) cladding – the same type that was on Grenfell Tower. This situation exposes the widespread nature of the building safety crisis and underscores the urgent need for decisive action.
The Spectrum Building Fire
The recent fire at the Spectrum Building in Dagenham, London, serves as a chilling reminder of the devastating consequences of this ongoing crisis. Despite being identified as a building with unsafe cladding in 2020, the Spectrum Building was still covered in highly flammable HPL panels – the same material responsible for a fatal fire at Lakanal House in 2009. This fire, thankfully, did not result in any fatalities, but it could easily have been a repeat of Grenfell.
The Risk Remains High
The Spectrum Building fire highlights the lethargic and laissez-faire approach to fixing the issue over the last seven years. The focus on assigning blame and negotiating compensation has left thousands of buildings across the UK in limbo. While the government has attempted to make responsible parties pay, most buildings are still stuck in a mire of legal disputes, delaying the crucial work needed to make them safe. This inaction leaves countless residents vulnerable to the risk of a devastating fire, creating an atmosphere of fear and anxiety. The tragic situation in Dagenham, where residents had to flee their homes as a fire engulfed the building while work was underway to replace the unsafe cladding, serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of the crisis.
A Call for Action
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry has highlighted the need for systemic change to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. While the Inquiry focused on the technical aspects of the fire, the reality is that many buildings across the UK still share the same dangerous materials and fire risks that contributed to the Grenfell fire. The responsibility now lies with the government to implement the recommendations of the Inquiry and take decisive action to address this national crisis. The continued failure to enforce building safety regulations puts countless lives at risk, and it is time for the government to act decisively to protect its citizens.
The Legacy of Grenfell
The Grenfell Tower fire was a tragedy that should never have happened, and its legacy is one of inaction and a continued lack of accountability. The ongoing crisis highlights the government's failure to learn from this terrible event and to implement effective measures to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again. It's clear that the lives lost at Grenfell were avoidable, and it is unacceptable that seven years later, residents are still living in unsafe buildings with the same dangerous materials that contributed to the devastating fire. The government must act now to ensure that the lives lost at Grenfell are not forgotten and that the lessons learned are implemented to prevent future tragedies.
