Grenfell families offered flats in luxury development

GRENFELL Tower families are to be housed in a £2billion luxury development that contains a private cinema and swimming pool.

Nearly 70 brand-new flats on the Kensington High Street development, in west London, have been bought for those who lost their homes in the blaze by the City of London Corporation.

The private flats in the block start at £1.5million. However, the apartments that will rehouse the families are part of the 120 affordable homes being built alongside them, the Evening Standard reported.

The corporation is acquiring the 68 flats for around £10million as part of the response to the tragedy. A spokesman told the paper: “We are ready to do everything we can to help the victims of the terrible fire at Grenfell Tower.”

A spokesman for the Berkeley Group, which is building the development under the St Edward brand alongside Prudential, confirmed they were finalising plans to rehouse residents affected by the fire, which destroyed 24-storey Grenfell Tower and its 127 flats.

The deal involves selling the flats at cost price and bringing forward the date they will be ready.

Meanwhile, the chief executive of Kensington and Chelsea council has resigned amid criticism over the borough’s response to the fire. Nicholas Holgate said Sajid Javid, the Communities Secretary, had on Tuesday “required the leader of the council to seek my resignation”. He said last week’s fire was “heart-breaking”.

It also emerged Grenfell’s renovation was inspected 16 times by the council, but flammable cladding was still used. Rydon, the contractor, said it “met all … building control, fire regulation and health and safety standards”.