‘All professionals should familiarise with the recommendations’: construction reacts to Grenfell report

The Grenfell Inquiry published yesterday (4 September) its second and final report of the fire in the residential tower that killed 72 people on 14 June 2017.

The 1,700-page document, produced after almost seven years of an Inquiry divided into two phases, includes a series of recommendations, most aimed at the built environment.

Here’s a round-up of reactions from industry bodies.

“The CLC has welcomed publication today of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report. The Inquiry’s findings are a serious and comprehensive reflection of the worst of UK construction’s culture and practices, which led to a tragedy that should and could have been avoided. We fully respect those findings and offer our sympathies and condolences to the families and wider Grenfell community.

“The Inquiry has also put forward a number of recommendations for both our industry and government, to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated. The CLC, as the representative body for the entire UK construction industry, will now study these recommendations and engage with industry and the government as to how they can be taken forward through our ongoing work on building safety."

“CIC and its member organisations are now reviewing the full report and its recommendations and carefully considering the further actions that we will need to take. 

“Whilst much work has already been done […] Sir Martin Moore-Bick has clearly identified several further matters that require attention and CIC will be working with its members, the wider industry and government to develop appropriate responses to those matters, ensuring that they are given the critical and expedient attention that they demand. 

“It will take time to give the thought and consideration that the report requires and for the action that is needed to address the various recommendations Sir Martin has brought forward.

“CIC believes that every construction professional should fully familiarise themselves with the report and its recommendations, and we will work closely with our members to facilitate this process as we develop an appropriate detailed response to the report.”

“We very much welcome the publication of the final report into the Grenfell Tower fire and will be reading it in detail to understand the implications for the construction sector in the UK.

“Improving the safety of buildings must be a priority. Although some progress has been made with the introduction of the Building Safety Act and changes to the Fire Safety Act, there is still much to do. 

“We are committed to working with others across the industry to follow up on the recommendations made in the report. Every step possible must be taken to ensure such a tragedy, which has impacted the lives of so many people, can never happen again.”

“In the coming days, APS will forensically study the report findings and will then be in a position to make a more detailed assessment.

“What is clear is that the findings and recommendations contained within this report are of critical importance to the future of the UK built environment. 

“The scale of the Grenfell tragedy will profoundly impact the approach to future construction safety and the report reinforces an APS commitment to ensure the safety of those living in our communities is robustly upheld.”

“As the chartered membership organisation for the project profession, APM is shocked by the report’s findings and the many examples of bad project management practice applied at Grenfell that contributed to the tragedy.

“The competence framework for managing projects in the built environment, which APM helped to create, is a good step on the journey to ensuring a tragedy like Grenfell never happens again. However, we acknowledge it is only one step. Businesses operating in the built environment sector must recognise the importance of appointing dedicated project experts. Not only that, but they must ensure these people are competent and have the right level of qualifications and training in place.

“Many are doing so already. APM’s goal now is to work with the public and private sector as a whole to ensure this understanding is embedded across industry, so businesses can be confident they are appointing the right people to manage construction projects of all sizes.”