Public Inquiry into Building Safety

Public Inquiry into Building Safety
Name	Public Inquiry into Building Safety
Type	Public inquiry
Established	2017
Jurisdiction	United Kingdom
Chair	Sir Martin Moore-Bick

Public Inquiry into Building Safety The Public Inquiry into Building Safety was a major statutory investigation addressing high-rise residential fire safety following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. It examined construction, regulation, regulation enforcement, and industry practice across stakeholders including residents, developers, and insurers.

Background and impetus

The inquiry was convened after the Grenfell Tower fire in North Kensington on 14 June 2017, which involved the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation, and contractors such as Rydon. The disaster prompted attention from figures including Theresa May, Sadiq Khan, and Sir Martin Moore-Bick, and drew comparisons with inquiries like the Hillsborough disaster inquiry and the Leveson Inquiry. It followed scrutiny of building products linked to other incidents involving companies like Kingspan Group, Arconic, and suppliers investigated in relation to cladding systems used on projects by developers such as Telford Homes and Berkeley Group Holdings.

Scope and terms of reference

The inquiry's terms of reference covered construction practice, retrofit works, regulatory regimes including the Building Regulations 2010, and the roles of bodies like the Architects Registration Board, Royal Institute of British Architects, and Chartered Institute of Building. It also examined the conduct of public agencies including London Fire Brigade, Local Government Association, and the Department for Communities and Local Government. The scope for Phase 1 focused on the circumstances of the Grenfell Tower fire and Phase 2 broadened to systemic issues affecting high-rise residential buildings, considering regulations such as the Housing Act 1988 and standards referenced by organizations including British Standards Institution.

Evidence and witness hearings

Hearings called witnesses from a broad spectrum including residents represented by advocates associated with Human Rights Watch and Liberty (UK civil liberties organisation), industry experts from firms like Arup and WSP Global, and officials from bodies such as Homes England and the Health and Safety Executive. Legal teams included counsel from chambers like Matrix Chambers and Doughty Street Chambers, while expert testimony cited manufacturers including Celotex and Kingspan. International comparisons were drawn with building failures examined in reports involving entities such as National Fire Protection Association, International Code Council, and cases in Australia and the United States.

Findings and conclusions

Phase 1 concluded with detailed findings about the sequence of events at Grenfell Tower and deficiencies in fire safety measures, identifying failures by contractors, leaseholders, and regulators. Phase 2 reported systemic weaknesses across procurement, design, and regulatory oversight implicating bodies including the Building Research Establishment and practices employed by developers like Lendlease. The inquiry highlighted issues analogous to findings in other public investigations, such as those into Piper Alpha and Ronan Point, emphasizing failures in risk assessment, product testing, and compliance with standards set by BSI.

Recommendations and action plan

The inquiry recommended reforms across regulation, enforcement, and remediation funding, proposing measures such as mandatory registration for building inspectors akin to Financial Conduct Authority registration models, stronger duties for responsible persons comparable to provisions in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and accountability mechanisms drawing on precedents from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Expert Panel. Recommendations included product testing reforms referencing standards from European Committee for Standardization and mandatory retrofit programs similar to public health interventions by NHS England.

Government and industry response

The responses involved ministers including Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak, and Michael Gove at different stages, and agencies like the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government implemented policy initiatives such as updated guidance and funding schemes. Industry reaction included commitments from firms such as Willmott Dixon and Laing O'Rourke to review cladding and fire safety practices, while trade bodies like the Construction Industry Council and Federation of Master Builders engaged in reform dialogues. Financial arrangements involved insurers like Aviva and remediation funds discussed with institutions including Bank of England stakeholders.

Implementation, oversight, and outcomes

Implementation has involved regulatory reforms, establishment of new standards and oversight mechanisms including enhanced roles for the Fire Protection Association and proposals for a national regulator modeled on systems used by Ofsted and Financial Reporting Council. Remediation programs affected leaseholders across estates managed by entities such as Peabody Trust and Clarion Housing Group, with legal actions brought in courts including the High Court of Justice and appeals to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Ongoing monitoring engages public bodies like Local Government Association and international observers from organizations such as the Council of Europe to track progress against the inquiry's recommendations.

Category:Public inquiries in the United Kingdom