Grenfell Tower, the high-rise block in North Kensington where 72 people lost their lives due to government failures, corporate dishonesty, and a lack of fire service strategy, is set to be demolished.

On Wednesday (February 5), Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner met with survivors and bereaved relatives, confirming the decision to “carefully deconstruct” the tower, according to a spokesperson for Grenfell Next of Kin.

A government representative described the matter as “deeply personal” and insisted that Rayner was committed to ensuring those affected remained at the heart of the process. However, Grenfell United, which represents survivors and bereaved families, condemned the decision, saying the government had “ignored the voices of [the] bereaved on the future of our loved ones’ gravesite.” The group called the move “disgraceful and unforgivable.” Many families believe the tower should remain standing until criminal prosecutions take place over the systemic failings that led to the fire. The near-decade-long wait for justice has been “unbearable” for many, writes Aneesa Ahmed for the Guardian.

The final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, published in September 2024, laid bare the “simple truth” that every death was preventable. Inquiry chair Sir Martin Moore-Bick concluded that residents had been “badly failed” by authorities; “In most cases through incompetence but, in some cases, through dishonesty and greed,” he notes. Despite this, accountability remains elusive. In May 2024, police and prosecutors said their investigation would continue until at least the end of 2025, with final decisions on criminal charges not expected before late 2026.

Year after year, the survivors and bereaved are forced to fight for accountability in a system that moves incredibly slowly. One that has prioritised reputation over reckoning delay over dignity. The Grenfell fire was not a tragedy; it was an injustice, and Rayner’s actions are continuing that injustice, hurting families and friends who want to remember their loved ones on their own terms.