A high-rise fire killed Catherine. The cladding firm kept selling
May 6, 2025
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Martina Lees, Senior Property Writer for The Sunday Times, shares insights from her investigation into the cladding scandal that follows tragic fires, including the Grenfell tragedy. She recounts the heartbreaking story of Catherine Hickman, who lost her life due to inadequate cladding. The discussion uncovers the discrepancies in fire safety regulations and the alarming practices by companies like Trespa. With compelling stories, it emphasizes the pressing need for accountability and reform in building safety standards across the UK.
The podcast exposes the dangerous use of combustible cladding in high-rise buildings, linked to preventable tragedies like the Lackanell fire.
Catherine Hickman's tragic story highlights the ongoing struggles for justice faced by families impacted by corporate negligence in building safety.
Deep dives
The Cladding Catastrophe
The podcast outlines the severe issues surrounding cladding safety in the UK, particularly highlighted by the tragic fire at Lackanell House in 2009, which resulted in multiple fatalities. It reveals that the cladding used on this building and others, specifically from the company Trespa, contributed to the rapid spread of flames during the fire due to its installation with combustible insulation. The investigation indicates that despite knowledge of safety hazards, misleading marketing practices allowed dangerous cladding to be widely used in high-rise buildings, putting countless residents at risk. This situation has escalated into what some describe as Britain's biggest corporate scandal, given that the ramifications of such negligence have been felt across numerous properties nationwide.
Catherine Hickman's Legacy
Catherine Hickman, who died in the Lackanell fire, is remembered through the narrative shared by her family, emphasizing her identity as a talented fashion designer with a promising future. The emotional interviews conducted with her parents and siblings reveal the lasting impact of her death on the family and underscore the preventable nature of the tragedy. The segment highlights how Catherine's story is emblematic of the broader issue of corporate accountability in ensuring safety standards, as her family's quest for justice reflects the ongoing struggles faced by many affected by similar incidents. Her legacy serves as a painful reminder that the failure of organizations like Trespa and the building regulatory bodies has led to continued risks for residents in buildings featuring similar cladding.
Ongoing Risks and Corporate Accountability
The discussion reveals that up to 700,000 individuals are currently living in flats at risk due to the widespread use of unsafe cladding, with many unable to sell their homes due to fire safety concerns. Although some actions have been taken to address these unsafe conditions, reports indicate that only a small percentage of buildings have undergone necessary repairs, leaving the majority of residents vulnerable. The investigation underscores a critical need for systemic change in building regulations and corporate responsibility, as companies continue to evade accountability for their role in these tragedies. The implications of this issue extend beyond just safety, affecting people's lives and financial security as they face exorbitant costs for remediation.
Eight years before the Grenfell tragedy, a fire in a high-rise building killed six people. Now a Sunday Times investigation has raised serious questions about the cladding used on those flats and thousands of others in the UK. So is this Britain's biggest corporate scandal?
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Guest: Martina Lees, Senior Property Writer, The Sunday Times.
