Keningston and Chelsea (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A two-year demolition of Grenfell Tower has begun in Kensington and Chelsea, marking a major step in the aftermath of the 2017 fire tragedy.
The remnants of the buildings in Kensington and Chelsea, where a fatal fire in 2017 killed seventy-two people, will be demolished, the government said earlier this year.
Over the summer, preparations were made, and this week, work will begin to remove an old plant room on top of the tower that once contained a water tank and heating.
The removal of the tower’s top story, the 24th floor, will start after this phase, which might take weeks, is finished.
Deconstruct UK (DUK), which has been involved in site maintenance since 2017, is doing the floor-by-floor work.
In the eight years since the tragedy, the tower’s remnants have remained intact, and the words “forever in our hearts” are displayed on a covering that depicts a giant green heart.
According to the government, a banner will stay on the structure and be lowered while construction continues.
Some of the victims and survivors of the fatal fire expressed their amazement and displeasure when it was confirmed earlier this year that the tower will be dismantled. They said their opinions had not been taken into account before the decision was made.
Divergent opinions have been expressed; her department acknowledged that some people had hoped that some of it would stay in place as a tribute to what happened, while others said this would be “too painful.”
Some of the bereaved and survivors had hoped it would stay in place until a point where charges were brought against those they deem responsible for the fire.
According to earlier statements from police and prosecutors, investigators would need until the end of 2025 to finish their investigation, and by the end of 2026, final judgments regarding possible criminal charges would be made.
Families have called the nearly ten-year wait for justice “unbearable.”
According to expert advice, the tower “is significantly damaged” and will only become worse with time, the government revealed in February.
A “sacred space” that serves as a “peaceful place for remembering and reflecting” is one of the recommendations made by the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission, which has been consulting on plans for a permanent memorial in the vicinity of the tower.
A memorial planning application is anticipated to be filed in late 2026.
Plans for a second location where materials from the tower “which are not used in the memorial, or conserved, will be safely and respectfully laid to rest” will also be shared, according to the government.
Ministry of Housing spokesperson said;
“As work begins to carefully take the tower down, we want to assure the community that it will be undertaken with great care and sensitivity”
The final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, published in September 2024, concluded the disaster was the result of “decades of failure” by governments and the construction industry to act on the dangers of flammable materials on high-rise buildings.
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said:
“We recognise Grenfell Tower has a deep personal significance to the Grenfell community, and our thoughts remain with the bereaved families, survivors and all those affected.
As work begins to carefully take the tower down, we want to assure the community that it will be undertaken with great care and sensitivity.
We remain committed to ensuring what happened at Grenfell Tower is remembered and we will keep the community’s voice at the heart of our work to deliver the vital change needed so what happened can never happen again.”
What consultations were held with bereaved families before demolition began?
Bereaved families expressed feeling “disgusted and disappointed” at the perceived lack of meaningful consultation regarding the decision to demolish the tower.
Many families and survivors wanted the tower to remain standing until criminal charges related to the fire were brought against those deemed responsible, rather than being demolished beforehand.
The Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission, established in 2018 and consisting of bereaved families, survivors, and local residents, has been working on plans for a lasting memorial but had not finalized its decisions before demolition started.