‘Unlawful’ Grenfell cladding banned at last

GrENFELL-STyLE cladding is to be banned, the Housing Secretary said yesterday.

The combustible cladding fitted on the doomed tower block where 72 died was ‘unlawful under existing building regulations’, James brokenshire said. He said the cladding, fitted to the tower during a £9million refurbishment, should never have been used. ‘The Grenfell Tower fire was an appalling tragedy and we must do everything we can to ensure a disaster like this never happens again,’ he said. ‘I have listened carefully to concerns and I intend to ban the use of combustible materials on the external walls of high-rise residential buildings, subject to consultation.’ The public inquiry into the tragedy yesterday heard the refurbishment from 2012 to 2016 left a series of safety failings at the West London tower block.

Aluminium cladding panels had inch-wide gaps – exposing combustible filling – and barriers intended to delay the spread of fire between floors were incorrectly installed. The inquiry continues.