The Story
From the archive: The Grenfell fire (Pt 2): The cladding scandal
Aug 31, 2024
Martina Lees, a Senior Property Writer at The Sunday Times, brings her expertise to discuss the catastrophic Grenfell Tower fire. She reflects on the impact of hazardous cladding, revealing systemic safety failures that exacerbated the tragedy. The conversation delves into personal stories from affected families and highlights the lack of accountability among corporations like Kingspan. Additionally, she emphasizes the urgent need for regulatory reform to prevent future tragedies and the ongoing fight for justice by survivors.
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Quick takeaways
- The Grenfell Tower fire highlighted severe regulatory failures and systemic negligence regarding the use of flammable cladding materials in high-rise buildings.
- Despite government funding efforts, around 640,000 people in the UK are still living in unsafe buildings, underscoring an ongoing safety crisis.
Deep dives
The Tragic Grenfell Fire
The Grenfell Tower fire, which occurred five years ago, resulted in the deaths of 72 individuals, marking it as one of the deadliest residential fires in UK history. The fire spread rapidly due to systemic negligence and flammable cladding materials that surrounded the tower, which failed to comply with safety regulations. In the aftermath, extensive protests called for justice, prompting a public inquiry that has been ongoing for several years. The inquiry revealed a housing scandal, with many still living in unsafe buildings today due to similar flammable materials.
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