Grief, remembrance and an unrelenting demand for accountability will shape this year’s Grenfell anniversary, the last one to be marked before the tower block disappears from the west London skyline.
A church service is due to be held this afternoon, before the annual silent walk through west London this evening. The commemorations will then continue with the reading of the names of the 72 people who died, followed by speeches from campaigners.
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The fire in June 2017 was ruled avoidable by a public inquiry, which concluded it came after “decades of failure” by successive governments and the construction industry to confront the risks posed by flammable materials on high-rise buildings.
Last month, British police and prosecutors said as many as 20 companies and 57 individuals could face criminal charges linked to the disaster.
Among the possible offences being examined are corporate gross negligence manslaughter, fraud, health and safety violations, and misconduct in public office.
Grenfell survivor Edward Daffarn said the update was “encouraging”, but added that the ongoing “wait for justice is tortuous, and it’s an old expression, but justice delayed is justice denied”.
The Grenfell inquiry’s final report in 2024 concluded that victims, bereaved families and survivors had been “badly failed” through incompetence, dishonesty and greed. It found the tower had been wrapped in combustible materials because of the “systematic dishonesty” of companies that manufactured and sold the cladding and insulation.
Inquiry chairman Martin Moore-Bick denounced what he called the “deliberate and sustained” manipulation of fire safety testing, the misrepresentation of test data and the misleading of the market.
Mr Daffarn said it is “absolutely essential” that both individuals and companies are made to answer for what happened.
He said: “It’s encouraging that we have a timeline now where there is a chance of these criminal prosecutions happening, which is absolutely essential.”
As many as 20 companies and 57 individuals could face criminal charges over the fire
Grenfell United, which speaks for many of the bereaved and survivors, has urged people to take part in the walk “in solidarity to remember those we lost, and demand justice”, describing it as “the last anniversary with any part of Grenfell Tower remaining”.
Work to dismantle the tower began in September last year, and the UK government said at the time that the process was expected to take about two years.
The government’s decision last year to demolish the building drew criticism from some bereaved relatives and survivors, who said they were distressed and shocked and felt their views had not been properly taken into account before the decision was made.
Demolition work is continuing at Grenfell Tower
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said that, “as a mark of respect”, work at the site will be paused from Friday until Tuesday.
Separately, the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission has been consulting on proposals for a permanent memorial near the tower. Recommendations include a “sacred space” intended to serve as a “peaceful place for remembering and reflecting”.
Design team Freehaus was selected last year to develop the memorial and is working alongside bereaved families, survivors and the wider local community on a final design, which is expected to be unveiled in mid-2027.
An MHCLG spokesperson said: “As we approach the ninth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, our thoughts are with the bereaved, survivors and all those affected.
“We remember the 72 people who lost their lives, and are committed to ensuring that what happened at the tower is not forgotten, and never happens again.”
