Responding to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report, the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government, Angela Rayner has announced that the government “will take forward all of the recommendations”
In an oral statement delivered at the House of Commons on 26 February 2025, Rayner confirmed that the government would move ahead with all 58 recommendations set out in the final Phase 2 report compiled by the Inquiry Chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick and his team.
Rayner stated that the Inquiry report “must be the catalyst for long-lasting systemic change”, adding that the report released on 4 September 2024 “uncovered damning evidence of political, corporate, and individual failings going back decades”.
“It was a deadly betrayal and a national tragedy that must never happen again. I will repeat today what the Prime Minister said in September: to the bereaved families, the survivors, and those in the immediate Grenfell community…on behalf of the government, the British state, and those responsible, I am very sorry.”
With 37 out of the 58 Inquiry recommendations directed towards the government, the new reforms announced include a new single construction regulator to ensure those responsible for building safety are held to account and tougher oversight of those responsible for testing and certifying, manufacturing, and using construction products, “with serious consequences for those who break the rules”.
Rayner said: “It is fair to say that the building system that we have today is not the same as the one that was justly criticised in the report, the one we had leading up to the tragic events of 2017. But it is also clear that there is still much more to do. So, I can announce that we will create a single construction regulator and a Chief Construction Adviser and will set out our detailed plans later this year.”
She added: “I am accepting the recommendations to professionalise fire engineers and assessors, to licence principal contractors, and to review the role of building control where standards are clear, and industry has clarity and certainty on the how individuals and firms must behave.”
Inquiry recommendations
49 of the recommendations are being “accepted in full” by the government and other responsible organisations.
“As regards the remaining nine, which are all directed at government, the government accepts them in principle and makes clear in our response how we will implement them. This does not take away from the above commitment, but the government must make sure that it achieves the best outcomes for the public where a recommendation requires further consideration, such as public consultation.”
Accepted in principle is that the government will bring all the functions relating to the construction industry under a single regulator. Additionally, the construction regulator will be responsible for assessing the conformity of construction products with the requirements of legislation, statutory guidance and industry standards, and issuing certificates as appropriate.
Responding to the recommendation, the government said: “We do not believe it is appropriate for the single regulator to undertake testing and certification of construction products, or issue certificates of compliance, as this would create a new conflict of interest within the regulator. Instead, we will strengthen oversight of Conformity Assessment Bodies through reforms to the construction products regime.”
A new green paper on Construction Products Regulation in Great Britain published alongside the Inquiry recommendations response, sets out the government’s proposals for the reform of the construction products regulatory regime. A Regulatory Reform Prospectus and consultation on the design of the single regulator will be published later this year.
Also agreed in principle is the recommendation for it to be made a legal requirement for the government to “maintain a publicly accessible record of recommendations made by select committees, coroners, and public inquiries together with a description of the steps taken in response”.
The government said it will “establish a record…of all recommendations made by public inquiries since 2024” on the GOV.UK website and will “consider making this an enduring legal requirement”.
Regarding the establishment of an independent College of Fire and Rescue, the government said that doing so would require primary legislation and consultation.
“From summer 2025, we will consult on the most appropriate functions for the college to fulfil and how it could best be structured and delivered, including consideration of all the functions recommended by the Inquiry. Engaging with and hearing from a wide range of people and organisations will strengthen our proposals.”
In response to the Inquiry’s reference back to the Phase 1 report, the government added that it would continue with the implementation of its new Residential PEEPs policy to improve the fire safety and evacuation of disabled and vulnerable residents in high-rise and higher-risk residential buildings, engaging with relevant stakeholders on the implementation.
Prior to the full government response, on 14 February 2025, the prime minister released a written statement in which he confirmed that the fire policy would move from the Home Office to the MHCLG, with the responsibility for both fire and building safety sitting under a single Secretary of State. The change will be effective from 1 April 2025.
Some of the recommendations that have been accepted in full by the government include:
- That the definition of a higher-risk building for the purposes of the Building Safety Act be reviewed urgently
- That a Chief Construction Adviser be appointed to provide advice on all matters affecting the construction industry
- That the statutory guidance generally, and Approved Document B in particular, be reviewed accordingly and a revised version published as soon as possible
- That the profession of fire engineer be recognised and protected by law and that an independent body be established to regulate the profession, define the standards required for membership, maintain a register of members and regulate their conduct
- That the government, working in collaboration with industry and professional bodies, encourage the development of courses in the principles of fire engineering for construction professionals and members of the fire and rescue services as part of their continuing professional development
- That the government establish a system of mandatory accreditation to certify the competence of fire risk assessors by setting standards for qualification and continuing professional development and such other measures as may be considered necessary or desirable.
The full government response to all 58 recommendations can be found here.
Investigation into accountability
In her oral statement, Rayner also addressed the accountability of all organisations involved in the Grenfell Tower tragedy that led to the loss of 72 innocent lives:
“The Inquiry uncovered serial incompetence and negligence, complacency and inaction, and blatant dishonesty and greed. The organisations that failed include the government and regulators – the department that I now lead – which failed to act on the risks and ignored, delayed, or disregarded matters affecting the safety of life.
“Companies must be held to account for their role in Grenfell,” she said, adding that new powers under the Procurement Act would be used to investigate the seven organisations criticised in the Inquiry report. These manufacturing companies, Rayner added, “acted with systemic dishonesty”.
“The disgraceful mercenary behaviour put profits before people and exploited the regulatory regime to evade accountability with fatal consequences.
“To my disgust and shame, some have shown little remorse, and some have even refused to fix the building safety crisis that they did so much to create.”
Rayner added that implementation of building safety reform would take place via a phased approach, with Phase 1 (2025–2026) focused on delivering the government’s current programme of regulatory reform and change. Further development and legislation would begin in Phase 2 (2026–2028), with implementation expected in Phase 3 (2028 onwards).
Building Safety Minister, Alex Norris said: “The Grenfell Tower fire was a preventable tragedy, and the failings it exposed demanded fundamental change.
“Our response today to the Inquiry’s findings sets out a comprehensive plan to reform the construction sector, strengthen oversight and make sure that residents are the priority when deciding on building safety issues.
“We will continue working closely with industry, local authorities and the Grenfell community to make sure these reforms deliver real, lasting change and rebuild trust.”
Earlier in February 2025, Sir Martin wrote to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer notifying him that the Inquiry had fulfilled its Terms of Reference and had formally closed. Also enclosed was the final cost report, which states that total Inquiry expenditure between the period of 1 August 2017 and 31 March 2024 was £178 million. From 1 April 2024 to 31 January 2025, the total expenditure was £4.4 million. Further details can be found here.