The Government will “carefully consider” the findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry to “ensure that such a tragedy cannot occur again”, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The inquiry’s final report, published on Wednesday, found the fire that killed 72 people in 2017 was the result of “decades of failure” by central government and the construction industry to act on the dangers of flammable cladding.
The findings of the report are the latest key milestone in the search by victims’ families and survivors for justice in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Here are the key moments that have defined the aftermath of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire disaster:
June 14, 2017 At 12.54am, a call is made to the London Fire Brigade reporting a fire in a fourth-floor flat. By 1.29am, flames have climbed to the top floor of the 24-storey block. Images of the fire make headlines across the world.
June 28, 2017 Retired judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick is appointed to lead a public inquiry into the fire.
July 28, 2017 The Government announces an independent review into building regulations led by Dame Judith Hackitt. It is alleged they are unclear and allow contractors to cut corners.
Sept 19, 2017 The Metropolitan Police announce a widening of their criminal investigation, as detectives consider individual as well as corporate manslaughter charges.
January 29, 2018 Maria del Pilar Burton, right, a 74-year-old survivor, dies in a care home. She comes to be considered the 72nd victim of the fire.
May 17, 2018 Dame Judith recommends “fundamental reform” to improve fire safety in her report, which identifies a “race to the bottom” in building safety practices with cost prioritised over safety. Ministers promise to consider ban on flammable cladding.
May 21, 2018 The inquiry begins, with seven days of commemoration hearings to the dead, starting with the youngest, stillborn Logan Gomes.
June 14, 2018 A year after the fire, survivors and bereaved relatives gather for a church service and a minute’s silence by the tower, joined by rapper Stormzy, far right.
June 21, 2018 Firefighter evidence begins. London Fire Brigade commissioner Dany Cotton, pictured right, tells the inquiry she would change nothing about her team’s response on the night.
Sept 2018 The Government bans the use of combustible cladding on all new residential buildings above 18 metres, including schools and hospitals.
Oct 3, 2018 Survivors and those who lost family in the fire begin giving evidence.
Dec 12, 2018 The first phase of the inquiry ends.
June 10, 2019 Met Police Commander Stuart Cundy says there is no guarantee criminal charges will be brought over the fire.
July 18, 2019 A Commons report accuses the Government of “not doing enough” to remove dangerous cladding from building. It says £200 million fund to strip cladding from buildings is not enough.
Oct 30, 2019 The first report, on phase one of the inquiry, is published. It concludes that flames shot up the building due to combustible aluminium composite material cladding with polyethylene core which acted as a “source of fuel”. It says the Fire Brigade’s preparation for a tower block fire was “gravely inadequate”.
It makes recommendations on evacuation of high-rise buildings, and on communications among emergency servicess.
Dec 19, 2019 Survivors call for a Fire Safety Bill to compel owners of multi-occupied residential premises to mitigate the risks of external walls, including cladding and fire doors.
Feb 24, 2020 Campaigners urge the Government to create a multi-billion-pound fund to remove flammable cladding.
Mar 11, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak announces a £1 billion fund.
Nov 2, 2020 The Fire Brigades Union launches a campaign for extra funds, as there are 11,200 fewer firefighters than a decade ago.
Nov 17, 2020 Robert Jenrick said he hopes dangerous cladding will be removed from most buildings by the end of the year.
Jan 19, 2021 The Government pledges to set up a new regulator to ensure the safety of building materials.
Feb 10, 2021 Robert Jenrick announces a new £3.5 billion package to pay for the removal of unsafe cladding.
Apr 29, 2021 Campaigners say the Government’s “indefensible” Fire Safety Bill will leave hundreds of thousands of leaseholders paying to remove cladding.
Oct 27, 2021 The Government decides to charge property developers to raise the £5 billion to remove unsafe cladding.
Jan 7, 2022 Housing Secretary Michael Gove says thousands of flat owners living in buildings taller than 11 metres will be spared the cost of removing dangerous cladding.
Jan 27, 2022 The Grenfell Tower Inquiry enters Phase 2, which included cladding, the tower’s management and the LFB response.
June 14, 2022 Bereaved and survivors gather for the fifth anniversary of the fire, some saying families feel “abandoned”.
May 2024 Police confirm survivors face waiting until the end of 2026 for a decision on potential criminal charges over the fire. Grenfell United describes the wait as “unbearable”.
June 14, 2024 On the seventh anniversary of the fire, campaigners from the infected blood scandal and the Covid Bereaved group join for a memorial walk.
July 2024 Government figures at the end of July showed that of 4,630 residential buildings in England identified with unsafe cladding only half had started or completed remediation works.
Aug 26, 2024 A non-fatal fire at a block of flats in Dagenham, east London, undergoing work to have cladding removed prompts fierce criticism of the slow pace of remediation works. Grenfell United say that the incident “highlights painfully slow progress.” New Housing Secretary Angela Rayner acknowledges progress on making buildings safe has been too slow and says “far too much” dangerous cladding remains.
Sept 29, 2024 The final Grenfell inquiry report is published.
