Nearly nine years after flames tore through Grenfell Tower, survivors and bereaved families are preparing to come together for an anniversary marked by both remembrance and a stark milestone: it is expected to be the last before the west London high-rise disappears from the skyline.
A church service is due to be held this afternoon, followed later by the annual silent walk through west London. The evening will culminate with the reading of the names of the 72 people who died and speeches from campaigners.
The June 2017 fire was later ruled avoidable by a public inquiry, which said the disaster followed “decades of failure” by governments and the building industry to act on the known dangers posed by flammable materials on high-rise buildings.
In an update last month, British police and prosecutors said as many as 20 companies and 57 individuals could still face criminal charges in connection with the blaze.
The London Metropolitan Police said decisions on whether to bring any charges are due before next year’s 10th anniversary.
Investigators are considering potential offences including corporate gross negligence manslaughter, fraud, health and safety breaches, and misconduct in public office.
Grenfell survivor Edward Daffarn said the latest developments were “encouraging” but described the ongoing “wait for justice” as “tortuous, and it’s an old expression, but justice delayed is justice denied”.
The inquiry’s final report, published in 2024, concluded that victims, survivors and bereaved families were “badly failed” through incompetence, dishonesty and greed. It said Grenfell Tower was wrapped in combustible products because of the “systematic dishonesty” of companies that made and sold the cladding and insulation used on the building.
Inquiry chairman Martin Moore-Bick said there had been “deliberate and sustained” manipulation of fire safety testing, along with misrepresentation of test data and misleading of the market.
Mr Daffarn said those responsible must be held accountable for what happened.
He said: “It’s encouraging that we have a timeline now where there is a chance of these criminal prosecutions happening, which is absolutely essential.”
Up to 20 companies and 57 individuals could face criminal charges over the blaze
Grenfell United, the group representing many bereaved families and survivors, has urged people to take part in the walk “in solidarity to remember those we lost, and demand justice”. The group noted it is “the last anniversary with any part of Grenfell Tower remaining”.
Demolition work began in September last year, and the UK government said at the time it expected the process to take about two years to complete.
However, when the demolition decision was announced last year it prompted criticism from some bereaved people and survivors, who said they were upset and shocked and felt their views had not been taken into account before the decision was made.
Work is under way to fully demolish Grenfell Tower
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said work at the tower would stop “as a mark of respect” from Friday until Tuesday.
Alongside the anniversary events, the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission has been consulting on proposals for a permanent memorial close to the site. Recommendations have included creating a “sacred space” intended to be a “peaceful place for remembering and reflecting”.
Freehaus, selected last year as the design team, is working with bereaved and survivor families and the local community on a final plan. The finished design is expected to be unveiled in mid-2027.
An MHCLG spokesperson said: “As we approach the ninth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, our thoughts are with the bereaved, survivors and all those affected.
“We remember the 72 people who lost their lives, and are committed to ensuring that what happened at the tower is not forgotten, and never happens again.”
