Paul Morrell, the former chief construction adviser to the government, is to co-chair an independent review of the system for testing construction products.
Morrell will share responsibility for chairing the review’s panel with legal expert Anneliese Day QC.
The review, announced earlier this year, will examine how to strengthen the current system for testing construction products to provide confidence that they are safe and perform as marketed.
It is part of a series of measures being taken to reform building safety regulation in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.
The review is expected to report its findings later this year.
Commenting on the appointment of Morrell and Day to the review’s panel, housing secretary Robert Jenrick said: “The Grenfell Tower Inquiry has heard deeply concerning suggestions that some construction product manufacturers may have gamed the system for testing these materials and compromised the safety of residents.
“We are taking these allegations very seriously and will await the Inquiry’s final recommendations – but it is clear that action is needed now to ensure products used on buildings always meet the highest safety standards.
“I am pleased to appoint Paul Morrell OBE and Anneliese Day QC to lead this independent review of the system for testing construction products that will build on the significant progress we have already made to make buildings safer.”
The panel will engage with a wide range of stakeholders to seek their views on how the system of safety testing of construction products could be improved and will report later this year with recommendations.
