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The government has responded to the final Grenfell Tower Inquiry report, confirming that it accepts its recommendations but much of the work to implement change will take years, with the creation of a new regulator and more consultation on legislative change that sees a three part programme of work going well into 2028.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner addressed the House of Commons to share the government’s response to the report published by Inquiry Chair, Sir Martin Moore-Bick in September 2024. Meeting the six months deadline to respond, she said that the fire in 2017 had been a “deadly betrayal” and should act as a “catalyst for systemic change.”
“On behalf of the government, I am very sorry.”
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
The headlines from the response include the creation of a new construction products regulator and a new regulatory regime. This is set out in a 158pp Construction Products Reform green paper which asks for responses by 21 May 2025. A new a Chief Construction Adviser will advise the secretary of state and “will also provide direct input and convene industry engagement into the design and implementation of the single regulator.”
“We will legislate to make it a mandatory requirement for fire risk assessors to have the competence to perform this critical role independently verified by a UKAS-accredited Certification Body.”
With 58 recommendations levelled at government, London Fire Brigade, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and others, there is substantial work to be done and the detailed 76pp response is a summary of responses from all concerned. It repeats an already confirmed commitment to move all fire-related policy into one department which includes oversight of the fire and rescue service in England to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The NFCC said it will be publishing delivery plans for implementing the recommendations levelled at fire and rescue this spring,.
“We strongly welcome the Government’s acceptance of the Phase 2 recommendations in full, their commitment to introducing tough reforms to fix building safety, their promise to hold industry to account, and their support in fire and rescue service improvement and reform.”
NFCC Chair Mark Hardingham.
A proposal to create a College of Fire and rescue is accepted in principle but the government says it will require primary legislation, adding that it will consult “on the most appropriate functions for the college to fulfil and how it could best be structured and delivered, including consideration of all the functions recommended by the Inquiry.”
In her statement to Parliament, the DPM said that the organisations involved in refurbishing Grenfell Tower had failed and repeated Sir Martin’s conclusion that there was “systemic dishonesty.” She added: “To my disgust, they have done little to change,” before saying that companies must be held to account for their role in Grenfell with new powers in the Procurement Act 2023 leading to the launch of debarment investigations for seven organisations named in the Inquiry report.
The Fire Brigades Union responded to the report saying it needed time to digest its findings, and welcomed the government’s acceptance of the recommendations.
“Government at all levels must listen to the voices of residents. The deregulation of recent years must be reversed to prevent profiteers from putting lives at risk. Organisations responsible for building safety must be brought under public ownership and resourced adequately. “
Steve Wright, General Secretary, Fire Brigades Union.
Sir Martin said that there should be a more formal process of monitoring recommendations from inquiries like Grenfell and suggested parliamentary scrutiny. The response from the government doesn’t go this far, saying it will “consider putting the requirement to maintain such a record on a statutory footing.” Although the response does confirm that there will be quarterly reporting on progress with an annual report to Parliament.
The three phases of work will take place over the course of this Parliament and are heavily linked to both housing reform and changes to resilience arrangements being considered by the Cabinet Office.
The government’s response can be read in full here – UK Government Response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report.
Read the recent HMICFRS report on how fire and rescue services are progressing with changes post Grenfell.
