Work to take down Grenfell Tower is to pause for three days this month ‘as a mark of respect’ during the ninth anniversary of the devastating fire that killed more than 70 people.
The Government’s latest Grenfell Tower community update highlights that on June 14, local people will be commemorating the anniversary of the tragedy that also left more than 70 people injured.
Work will pause from lunchtime on June 12 and not resume until June 16.
Due to the ongoing programme to demolish the Tower it will not be possible to access its site, but ‘to mark this important date’ there will be additional lighting at the Tower, says the Government.
Grenfell heart banners will also be in place at the site during the commemorations. These will be removed and stored when work resumes, it added.
‘We recognise that the Tower will look different, and that the banners are meaningful to many people,’ said the Government.
The 12-month programme to take down the Tower began last year, and a planning application has been submitted for the completion of the work.
The Government stresses that this is a separate application for plans to create a Grenfell Tower Memorial. An application for this will be submitted later this year, following a community-led design process that is being managed by architect firm Freehaus.
Last November a Local Government Association peer review warned that housing challenges are continuing at the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the local authority at the centre of the Grenfell tragedy.
This highlighted failures to ensure social housing residents were supported and came after the Regulator of Social Housing identified a 'serious failing' in the council's 'stock quality and decency' and called for improvement.
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