The council also said that its building inspectors vetted detailed drawings before works began as part of a “full plans” application, which usually includes the specifications of materials. The contractor Rydon has said it “met all required building control, fire regulation and health and safety standards”. It remains unclear when and how the more flammable material was substituted and the council declined to comment on what judgments its building inspectors made about the cladding during their site visits. This material should not be used as cladding on buildings over 18m in height.”

The Department of Communities and Local Government, which oversees building regulations, says: “Cladding using a composite aluminium panel with a polyethylene core would be non-compliant with current building regulations guidance. These included residents’ fears about relocating boilers into hallways.Īluminium cladding of the type believed to have been used at Grenfell, with a polyethylene filler, is not compliant with building regulations on taller buildings in the UK. The flats are in a complex where prices start at £1.6m and have been bought from the developer, St Edward, by the Corporation of London, which will run them as part of its social housing stock.Ī “far-reaching” criminal investigation, involving about 250 investigators and led by Scotland Yard, is examining how the fire started, how it spread and how the building was managed and maintained, fire safety measures and the refurbishment.īlakeman added that she had challenged the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation, the council’s arms-length housing department, over fire safety issues several times. Government money has been released to speed up their completion. As part of an attempt to permanently rehouse displaced families, the communities secretary, Sajid Javid, also announced that 68 “affordable” furnished flats built as part of a luxury apartment complex in the richer part of the borough are being made available from next month.

Inspector who under scrutiny said tower