The public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire has admitted it may not publish its final report before the seventh anniversary of the industry-changing tragedy.
An update issued by the team leading the investigation said the long-awaited paper was on hold due to the large volume of criticized parties that needed to be notified.
Retired judge Martin Moore-Bick was appointed on 28 June 2017 to lead the public inquiry into the huge fire that killed 72 people in west London two weeks earlier.
An initial report focusing on the events during the fire itself was published in October 2019. The second and final study, examining the causes of the tragedy, was initially expected this year, but had already slipped to early 2024.
Now, the latest update has made it clear that the post is taking a few months off.
“As things stand, the report will not be published before April next year, but the group hopes to be able to send it to the Prime Minister before the next anniversary of the fire, with publication shortly after.” , the investigation said in a statement.
The latest delay was attributed to a rule requiring correspondence with a large number of parties criticized in the document.
“Not only must we give recipients a reasonable amount of time to respond to potential criticisms, but we must also analyze their responses to decide whether we need to modify our interim findings or the way we have expressed them,” he said. the update
“However, we are probably halfway through the process, having sent over 100 letters so far.”
Once the final report is sent to the prime minister, it will be the government’s decision when to publish the landmark document. However, the government is widely expected to release the report immediately after receiving it.
Dame Judith Hackitt said last month Construction news that the industry should anticipate a “fundamental cultural shift” as the review of building safety prompted by its 2018 report on the lessons of the Grenfell Tower tragedy slowly got under way.
Meanwhile, ministers have started the process of hiring a replacement company to maintain the Grenfell Tower site. A contract notice said the £21.3m work would take an initial three years, with expressions of interest required by December 29.
