Grenfell Inquiry updates include new construction oversight and resident evacuation plans

Government updates progress on Grenfell recommendations

The UK Government has published its second quarterly progress report on implementing the recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

The report confirms completion of two further Phase 1 recommendations concerning Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for high-rise residential buildings.

According to the Government, all 58 Phase 2 recommendations have been accepted, with full implementation expected to take at least four years due to legislative requirements.

Officials said the new progress report includes an implementation timeline outlining expected completion dates for each recommendation.

The Government plans to update both the timeline and report quarterly until all recommendations are delivered.

Four-year delivery plan and new building reforms

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) stated that consultation will begin this year on Approved Document B and on a licensing scheme for Principal Contractors working on Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs).

Further details are expected on the design of a single construction regulator and on the review of the HRB definition.

In June, MHCLG confirmed reforms to the Building Safety Regulator as the first step toward creating a single construction regulator.

Changes include appointing Andy Roe, former London Fire Brigade Commissioner, as non-executive chair of a new shadow board and introducing a Fast Track Process for decision-making.

The Building Safety Regulator will recruit more than 100 new staff by the end of the year to expand capacity.

Appointment of interim Chief Construction Adviser

In September, the Minister for Building Safety appointed Thouria Istephan as interim Chief Construction Adviser (CCA) for a 12-month term.

Istephan previously served on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry panel from 2019 to 2024.

Her role includes advising the MHCLG Secretary of State on construction policy and monitoring progress on the Government’s response to the Inquiry’s Phase 2 recommendations.

She will also support design and implementation work for the single construction regulator.

Social housing reforms and remediation measures

In July, the Government updated its Remediation Acceleration Plan (RAP), which aims to speed up the removal of unsafe cladding and improve accountability across the housing sector.

The update announced more than £1 billion of new investment to accelerate remediation in social housing and a new Remediation Bill to establish enforcement powers.

The RAP includes funding for buildings under 11 metres where no alternative financial support is available, as well as measures to replace Waking Watch patrols with more sustainable fire-safety solutions.

The Government also introduced wider reforms to the social housing sector, including the Plan for a decade of social and affordable housing renewal.

This plan will deliver 300,000 homes through a £39 billion programme, with at least 60% designated for social rent.

Regulations under Awaab’s Law, addressing damp and mould hazards, will come into force from October 2025, with full implementation by 2027.

New electrical safety regulations will apply to new tenancies from November 2025 and existing tenancies from May 2026.

Competence, transparency and inquiry oversight

The Government confirmed its commitment to legislate for mandatory accreditation of fire risk assessors, requiring certification through a UKAS-accredited body.

BSI published BS 8674:2025 in August, setting out competence criteria for fire risk assessors, which MHCLG described as a step toward professionalising the field.

In July, the Government also launched public dashboards to record recommendations from inquiries such as Grenfell Tower and the Infected Blood Inquiry.

These dashboards track progress on accepted recommendations and will be expanded to include future inquiries.

NFCC action plan and emergency response updates

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) continues to coordinate delivery of Inquiry recommendations across fire and rescue services.

Its action plan includes reviews of regulations on lift fire controls, the creation of an Organisational Learning Library and new guidance on site-specific risk information.

The NFCC has re-established its Operational Training and Education Group, with the first meeting held in June, and completed a review of national guidance on the provision of water for firefighting.

In July, the Cabinet Office published the UK Government Resilience Action Plan outlining a ‘whole of society’ approach to national resilience, influenced by lessons from the Grenfell Inquiry.

A public consultation on partnerships between emergency responders and voluntary or faith groups closed in September and is under review.

New evacuation requirements for high-rise residents

The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025, laid in July, now make Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans mandatory in high-rise and higher-risk residential buildings.

These regulations complete two Phase 1 recommendations, requiring building managers to provide evacuation plans to fire services and maintain them in on-site information boxes.

Residents with disabilities or impairments must receive person-centred fire risk assessments and documented evacuation procedures.

The Government is also considering primary legislation to address the final Phase 1 evacuation recommendation.

Funding has been allocated this year to support social housing providers in implementing Residential PEEPs.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The progress report holds practical relevance for fire engineers, building safety managers and fire and rescue service leaders responsible for compliance with Grenfell Inquiry recommendations.

Mandatory Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans introduce direct responsibilities for high-rise building owners and fire services in maintaining and acting on individual evacuation data.

Developments in fire risk assessor competence and forthcoming legislation will affect independent assessors and consultancy firms seeking UKAS-accredited certification.

Fire and rescue services will also be impacted by the National Fire Chiefs Council’s expanded guidance on operational learning, training and site-specific risk information.

Construction professionals and contractors working on Higher-Risk Buildings will need to follow new licensing and regulatory frameworks emerging under MHCLG’s reforms.