Government Accepts All 58 Grenfell Tower Inquiry Recommendations

In response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report, the UK government has  accepted, and is committed to implementing, all fifty-eight of its recommendations to prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy.

This plan, the Government published today (26th February 2025), addresses some of the systemic failures across various sectors, focusing on enhancing building safety, regulatory oversight, and resident protection.

The key measures announced include:

• Redefinition of ‘Higher-Risk’ buildings: Legal definitions will be updated to encompass a broader range of buildings, ensuring that more structures are subject to stringent safety regulations.
• Revision of fire safety guidance: The official fire safety guidelines, known as Approved Document B, will undergo thorough review and updates to reflect current safety requirements and lessons learned from the Grenfell tragedy.
• Certification of fire risk assessors: To prevent unqualified individuals from making critical fire safety decisions, there will be a legal requirement for fire risk assessors to obtain certification, ensuring their competence and reliability.
• Evacuation plans for disabled residents: The government is committed to implementing policies that enhance fire safety and evacuation procedures for disabled and vulnerable residents in high-rise buildings, engaging with stakeholders to ensure effective execution. The government, in December, released draft regulation to introduce Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessments (PCFRAs) as well as Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Statements (PEES).
• Changes to the requirements for fire strategies: including adding a statutory requirement for design and as-built strategies, as well as introducing the need to complete certain calculations.
• Strengthening residents’ rights: The government plans to enforce clearer legal rights for residents, holding landlords accountable for addressing safety concerns and empowering residents to demand safe, high-quality housing.
• Establishment of a single construction Regulator: To address fragmentation in the construction industry, a unified regulator will be introduced, consolidating oversight, and ensuring consistent safety standards.
• Construction products green paper: A consultation document proposes measures to address critical gaps in the testing and compliance of construction products. This includes potential liability sanctions and penalties, such as fines and imprisonment, for manufacturers that misrepresent product safety.
• Firefighter training enhancements: Plans are underway to establish a new fire and rescue college aimed at improving the training and professionalism of firefighters, ensuring they are better prepared for complex fire incidents.
• Legal duty of candour: A proposed ‘Hillsborough law’ aims to compel public authorities to disclose the truth during major incidents, promoting transparency and accountability.
• Debarment investigations: Seven organisations implicated in the Grenfell disaster face potential exclusion from future government contracts. Investigations will determine their eligibility, and if certain criteria are met, these entities will be added to a debarment list influencing future contract awards.

To ensure transparency and track progress, the government has also committed to publishing quarterly reports- starting mid-2025-and providing annual updates to Parliament. These measures reflect a commitment to systemic reform, aiming to rebuild trust and prevent future tragedies akin to Grenfell.

Conclusion:

The government’s response marks a critical step toward systemic reform, prioritising safety, accountability, and transparency to prevent future tragedies, protect residents, and ensure lasting improvements in building regulations and fire safety.