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Grenfell survivors ‘saddened and disappointed’ by Hackitt report
Survivors and bereaved family members of the Grenfell Tower blaze have said they are “saddened and disappointed” that Dame Judith Hackitt ignored their calls for a ban on combustible cladding.
The Grenfell United group, which met Dame Judith and asked her personally to ban combustible cladding, also hit out over a failure to limit the use of desktop studies or the materials testing regime, and called on the government to act.
It came amid outrage over the final Hackitt report, published this morning, which refused to ban combustible cladding or the controversial means of clearing untested materials for use, known as desktop studies.
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Labour MP David Lammy described the report as a “betrayal and a whitewash”, while the Local Government Association (LGA) said it was “disappointing”.
Shahin Sadafi chair of Grenfell United said: “Worrying that a fire like Grenfell could happen again is something that keeps many of us awake at night.
“When we met Dame Judith Hackitt we asked her for an outright ban on combustable cladding. We are disappointed and saddened that she didn’t listen to us and she didn’t listen to other experts. The cladding on the Grenfell Tower was deemed to be limited combustibility, but it cost 72 lives. It must be banned. We need to hear from government a clear promise that these dangerous materials will never be used on homes again.
“This isn’t just about cladding – the whole system of building regulation is broken. The industry has too much influence over regulation and testing, desktop studies are totally flawed, profit is valued more than people’s safety and residents are left powerless. All of this must change.
“This report is a start but we’ve had recommendations before – after the Lakanal House fire and they were ignored – so we’re asking Dame Judith Hackitt to finish the job she has started and make sure this report leads to a serious culture change across the industry.
“Grenfell United, we will keep fighting until everyone is safe in their homes.”
Mr Lammy said: “This review is a betrayal and a whitewash. The Grenfell families and the public needed a review that was fearless in standing up to the industry on behalf of all those who lost their lives in Grenfell, with recommendations that ensure that an atrocity like Grenfell can never happen again.
“I simply fail to see how it is deemed appropriate for any combustible material to be used on any tower block in this country, and I find it unfathomable that this review has not recommended an outright ban on combustible material.”
Ben Derbyshire, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, said: “This review should have been a defining moment - a set of findings to bring real and meaningful change to the complexity and confusion surrounding core building regulations guidance.
“Whilst there are elements of Dame Judith Hackitt’s Review that we very much welcome, we are extremely concerned that it has failed to act on the urgent need to immediately protect life safety through a more detailed programme of simplified and improved regulations, standards and guidance.”
The LGA added: “Our immediate priority is to ensure that a fire like that at Grenfell never happens again, and to make certain the buildings which people live, visit and work in are safe today.
“It is therefore disappointing that Dame Judith has stopped short of recommending a ban on combustible materials and the use of desktop studies, both essential measures to improve safety.”
John Healey, the shadow housing secretary, added on Twitter: “It beggars belief that the government’s building safety review gives the green light to combustible materials on high-rise blocks.”
The government is expected to give an update later.
This story will be updated.
What is the Hackitt Review?
Following the Grenfell Fire in June, which killed 71 people, questions were raised about the part that building regulations played in the tragedy.
On 28 July, Amber Rudd, the home secretary, and Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, commissioned Dame Judith Hackitt to conduct a review into building regulations and fire safety.
The review, which is being carried out independently of government, has a particular focus on regulations as they apply to high-rise residential buildings.
The review's interim findings were reported in December 2017.
Who is Dame Judith Hackitt?
Dame Judith is an engineer with extensive experience in the chemicals industry and former civil servant. She formerly chaired watchdog the Health and Safety Executive and is currently chair of manufacturing trade body EEF.
In 2006, she was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to health and safety and in 2016 was named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE).
