“We need systemic change – deregulation and building controls put commercial interests ahead of regulatory duties”
By Apsana Begum MP
The final Grenfell Tower Inquiry report confirmed what was widely known from some time: that all 72 deaths were entirely avoidable.
I share in the grief and anger of the bereaved, survivors and residents.
We need true justice and for all those responsible to be held to account.
Therefore, how it be that people – disproportionately working class and BAME communities – are at still risk because the need to remove dangerous cladding remains outstanding?
My constituency, Poplar and Limehouse, has a high density of high and mid-rise buildings and as such many live in buildings that have been found to have life-critical safety defects, including unsafe cladding.
I have made numerous representations to the previous Government about developers that continue to build in Poplar and Limehouse, while they have yet to remediate existing blocks found to have life-critical safety defects.
I have been representing constituents living in such blocks by writing on their behalf to the relevant developers; freeholders; housing associations; and have escalated a number of cases to the local authorities and to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Delays to the remediation of defects have not only left residents’ lives at risk, but had disastrous financial consequences for leaseholders, who have been unable to sell-up or remortgage their homes.
This is just unacceptable. The Government must deal with these terrible injustices as a matter of urgency.
Locally we have been working hard for accountability regarding the fire at New Providence Wharf – including making representations to the CEO of Ballymore several times about their treatment of the residents and leaseholders that survived the fire.
No lives were lost thanks to the London Fire Brigade. However, from speaking to evacuated residents on the scene, and from conversations with them since, I know how deeply frightening and traumatic it was – with lasting consequences.
No one has been held to account,
Therefore, it is now vital that he results and recommendations of the Grenfell Inquiry are acted on.
More than this, we need the systemic change –- and there can be no question that deregulation and building controls that put commercial interests ahead of regulatory duties are at the core of this problem.
This is why I support the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) call for the systems for delivering building safety to be brought under public ownership and to be given the resources they need.
The FBU are also calling for national standards set by a statutory advisory body on fire policy, giving a voice to firefighters and control staff and drawing on the best expert advice.
We can never stop until we achieve that justice, accountability and the systemic change needed to honour the lives of those lost at Grenfell.
Because everyone should have access to safe, affordable high-quality housing.
- Apsana Begum is the MP for Poplar and Limehouse and a regular contributor to Labour Outlook. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram and TikTok.
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