The Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) has awarded the contract for the work to deconstruct the tower to a company that has worked on the site since the 2017 fire
As previously reported by the FPA, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner announced in February that a report from structural engineers AtkinsRéalis into the state of Grenfell Tower had concluded that the tragic fire, in which 72 people died, had caused significant structural damage. As a result, the decision was taken that the building would need to be deconstructed “at the earliest possible opportunity” to mitigate the level of risk and avoid the need for “emergency or unplanned deconstruction” as the site deteriorates.
A notice published on 25 April on the GOV.UK website reveals that the contract for the Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor has now been awarded, with the contract worth £12.25 million going to Deconstruct (UK) Limited, whose existing contract has been extended to take on the work of deconstructing the building.
Having already been involved in the repair and maintenance, security services, and facilities management of the Tower site, the contract variation will allow for Deconstruct (UK) to perform the “planned deconstruction services of Grenfell Tower to ground level”.
According to the notice, the planned deconstruction will “minimise disruption to the community as it will minimise the use of noisy and percussive approaches and ensure dust control is in place from the outset”, and the notice from MHCLG explains that it “would not be possible to do this to the same extent in the case of an emergency deconstruction.”
The notice also explains that Deconstruct (UK) has been working on the Grenfell site since 2017, undertaking all three stages of propping the existing structure and weekly monitoring of the props, performing site clearance, and undertaking necessary remedial works. MHCLG noted that this “unique site knowledge” and understanding of the Tower, site, and neighbourhood, would help ensure operative safety and “design the optimal methodology to minimise disruption during deconstruction works. This kind of knowledge cannot be gleaned quickly, and the relationships have now been formed over years.”
In its February statement, the government said it would “likely take around two years to sensitively take down the Tower through a process of careful and sensitive progressive deconstruction that happens behind the wrapping”.
The modified contract will take effect following a mandatory 30-day standstill period.