Grenfell Tower will be demolished, government confirms
Angela Rayner had been accused of “ignoring” the voices of people who lost
family in the fire in June 2017, which killed 72 people. In its announcement,
the government said it would take two years for the tower to be taken down.
By Tim Baker and Faye Brown, political reporters
Friday 7 February 2025 12:44, UK
Grenfell Tower will be demolished, Angela Rayner has confirmed.
The demolition is expected to take “around two years” and be carried out
“sensitively”, the government said.
The official announcement comes after the deputy prime minister met with
campaigners to tell them of the decision on Wednesday evening – sparking an
angry reaction.
[https://news.sky.com/story/disgraceful-and-unforgiveable-decision-to-demolish-grenfell-tower-attacked-13303909]
Grenfell United has accused Ms Rayner of “ignoring” the voices of people who
lost family in the fire in June 2017, which killed 72 people.
Read more: Grenfell Tower – what happens now?
[https://news.sky.com/story/grenfell-tower-what-happens-now-13304571]
The disaster was Britain’s deadliest residential fire since the Second World War
and began a national reckoning over the safety and conditions of social housing
and tower blocks.
There have been discussions over the years about how best to commemorate the
tragedy for the decades to come.
Engineering experts have said that while the tower remains stable, and it is
safe for people to live, work and study nearby, its condition will worsen over
time and there is no realistic prospect of bringing it back into use.
In September last year, the public inquiry into Grenfell found “systematic
dishonesty” of firms who made and sold cladding contributed to the horrific fire
[https://news.sky.com/story/grenfell-inquiry-report-key-points-13209144].
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Why is Grenfell Tower being demolished?
In its announcement of the demolition
[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/update-on-the-future-of-grenfell-tower], the
government said Ms Rayner was told by engineers that the tower is “significantly
damaged”.
While it “remains stable”, this is due to the supports put in place after the
fire, and the condition will worsen over time.
Engineers said it is also not “practicable” to keep many of the damaged storeys
as part of a long-term memorial.
“Taking the engineering advice into account the deputy prime minister concluded
that it would not be fair to keep some floors of the building that are
significant to some families, whilst not being able to do so for others and
knowing that, for some, this would be deeply upsetting,” the government said.
How will the demolition take place?
The government says it wants to take the next steps “respectfully and
carefully”, with continued support for the community around Grenfell.
It is stated that no changes will take place before the eighth anniversary of
the fire in June this year.
The next step is to find someone to carry out the demolition.
A “specialist contractor” will be found to come up with a “detailed plan” for
taking down the tower.
The government estimates it will take around two years to “sensitively take down
the tower through a process of careful and sensitive progressive deconstruction
that happens behind the wrapping”.
Any leftover materials from the tower and its surrounding communal areas can be
carefully removed and then returned as part of any memorial, if the community so
chooses, according to the government.
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Read more:
How the tragedy happened – minute by minute
[https://news.sky.com/story/what-happened-in-the-grenfell-tower-fire-a-timeline-of-the-tragedy-13208589]
Powers to fix fire safety crisis are being ignored
[https://news.sky.com/story/grenfell-tower-regulations-introduced-after-the-fire-to-force-building-owners-to-fix-serious-safety-issues-are-still-being-ignored-13208543]
Community reaction
Ahead of the decision being made publicly, Ms Rayner wrote to families,
survivors and surrounding residents to tell them of the planned demolition.
The government says it has “prioritised” engaging with the community, and that
Ms Rayner has been offering to speak with them and listen to their views for
several months. The deputy prime minister also met with community groups,
residents’ associations, schools and faith leaders.
These conversations have made it clear the tower “remains a sacred site” –
however it is also clear “there is not a consensus about what should happen to
it”.
The government said that for some the tower remains a “symbol of all they lost”
and helps ensure “the tragedy is never forgotten and can act as a reminder of
the need for justice and accountability”.
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The visibility of the tower also “helps some people continue to feel close to
those they lost”.
But the announcement added that for some, the tower is a “painful reminder of
what happened and is having a daily impact on some members of the community”.
