Seven firms criticised in Inquiry to face ban from government contracts
The Government has promised a further three years of sweeping reforms to the way the industry operates in its response to the Grenfell Inquiry report.
It confirmed that seven firms criticised in the Grenfell report will now be investigated under the Procurement Act and face a total ban from government contracts.
The Government also accepted the recommendation to introduce licensing of principal contractors wishing to undertake the construction or refurbishment of higher-risk buildings.
It confirmed it would now work with the sector to consider how a licensing scheme could work and the timescales for its introduction.
Seven Grenfell firms to be investigated
Arconic Architectural Products; Saint-Gobain Construction Products UK , which previously owned Celotex; Exova (UK); Harley Facades; Kingspan Insulation; Rydon Maintenance, and Studio E Architects.
In a statement to the House of Commons, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner also committed to establishing a new super-regulator for all of construction by 2028.
The Government also published a separate Green Paper that set out its plans for tough new rules on construction product safety.
This will include closer scrutiny of those responsible for testing and certifying, manufacturing and using construction products with serious consequences for those who break the rules.
Rayner said: “We are acting on all of the Inquiry’s findings, and today set out our full response, detailing the tough action we are taking to drive change and reform the system to ensure no community will ever have to face a tragedy like Grenfell ever again.
“That means greater accountability, stronger regulation, and putting residents at the heart of decision-making. We must deliver the fundamental change required. We owe that to the Grenfell community, to the country, and to the memory of those who lost their lives.”
The government said it would take forward all 58 recommendations in the 1,700-page Grenfell inquiry final report.
Already many of the recommendations have been implemented which the Government aims to embed in phase 1 of its reform plan. Further changes requiring legislation will be rolled out in phase 2 running from 2026 to 2028.
Programme of reform
Phase 1 (2025 to 2026): delivery of existing reform
- Bedding in and focus on delivery of current programme of regulatory reform and change
Phase 2 (2026 to 2028): further development and legislation
- Legislation to deliver reforms such as reforming the construction products sector
- Creating single powerful construction regulator
- New regulatory standards for decency and energy efficiency standards, expanding to the private sector too
- Stopping unqualified individuals from making critical fire safety decisions, by legally requiring fire risk assessors to be competence certified.
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