 "The Grenfell tower fire started in the early hours of June 14, 2017. Image courtesy: X.com/https://x.com/Vampicca")
Crews have begun dismantling Grenfell Tower in west London, eight years after the devastating blaze that killed 72 people and exposed systemic failings in Britain’s housing safety regulations.
The high-rise block, wrapped in highly flammable cladding, became a symbol of both national grief and political failure when flames tore through it in June 2017. A public inquiry concluded that the cladding was the critical factor that allowed the fire to spread so rapidly.
Grenfell’s legacy has extended far beyond the tower itself. In the years since, inspections revealed that millions of Britons were living in buildings with similarly unsafe materials.
Successive governments pledged to remove all dangerous cladding, but progress has been slow. Campaigners say thousands of high-risk structures remain either unidentified or unaltered, leaving residents vulnerable.
The crisis has also reshaped the UK housing market. Banks remain reluctant to issue mortgages for properties flagged as unsafe, trapping hundreds of thousands of leaseholders in so-called “mortgage prison.” Many face spiralling service charges and repair bills, while being unable to sell their homes.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Eight years on, the systemic failure continues,” one campaign group representative told BBC. “The demolition of Grenfell is a reminder that safety promises have yet to translate into security for ordinary people still living with risk.”
The knock-on effects ripple through both housing supply and affordability. The cladding crisis has depressed the value of affected homes while eroding trust in construction standards and regulatory oversight. Industry analysts warn that unless remediation accelerates, the crisis will continue to distort the housing market and stall mobility for many families.
For survivors and bereaved families, the demolition is a painful but inevitable step. The government has pledged a “lasting memorial” on the site, though consultations are ongoing. Community groups say the focus must remain on justice, accountability, and ensuring such a disaster cannot be repeated.