The Grenfell Inquiry Final Report: What you need to know

On 4 September 4 2024, the final report of the Grenfell Inquiry was published. Six years in the making, the 1,700 page report included 58 recommendations.

Its publication represents one of the most significant moments in construction. It has many implications for the sector, as well as the government and fire services.

One of the most far-reaching recommendations is the creation of a single regulator for construction. Potential responsibilities include the regulation of construction products, including testing and certification, the regulation and oversight of building control, licencing of contractors to work on higher-risk buildings and the accreditation of fire risk assessors. This organisation would report to a single Secretary of State.

Other recommendations include redefining high-risk buildings based on the nature of their use, including whether they are likely to be occupied by vulnerable people, the centralisation of all functions related to fire safety under one government department, the appointment of a Chief Construction Advisor, a review into how building control is delivered, and changes to various pieces of legislation and guidance. The latter includes a review of Approved Document B.

Many cultural issues were raised in the report including a failure to take fire safety seriously, dishonesty when it came to marketing products, and a focus on cost and speed of project delivery over safety and quality.  

Speaking at the report’s publication, panel member and architect Thouria Istephan said that significant changes to behaviour were needed and must be “owned and led by those of us working in the sector.”

Our analysis of national media since the fire happened shows that most stories have been extremely negative towards the industry. This has created a perception of an industry that has failed to keep people safe in buildings, through lack of competence and deliberate deception. Trust is low, and that is bad news for an industry that struggles to attract new people.

The UK government has committed to speeding up remediation works. Expect an announcement in the Autumn budget. It has asked for six months to prepare its official response to the report and further legislation is likely.

Criminal proceedings are ongoing, with the Metropolitan Police aiming to complete its investigations by the end of 2025. That puts potential criminal charges in late 2026; nineteen organisations and 58 individuals are under scrutiny.

The sector must speed up on remediation and take responsibility for what has happened. Until this is complete, it cannot move forward.

Even those not involved directly must act. Take a leadership role and drive changes that reflect the Inquiry’s findings now. Those organisatons will be better placed to respond to whatever comes next and can start to address the cultural issues highlighted. We are at a time when change has been demanded – it’s on the sector to respond now.

Interested in finding out more? Read our report here to view our research on how the construction industry was portrayed across the media.