Decisions, principles, promises and recommendations for the future of the Grenfell Tower site

[edit] Grenfell Tower site latest update

On 19 December 2024, the Grenfell Tower site management team of the UK Government's Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published its December Grenfell Community update, The future of Grenfell Tower: advice that will inform a decision' In this update it was confirmed that the Deputy Prime Minister had recently shared plans to continue conversations about the tower to understand the views of the Grenfell Community and come to a decision regarding the site in February of 2025.

The community update acknowledged to the Grenfell Community that 'The government is responsible for Grenfell Tower. We know the site is deeply sensitive, and that decisions about the tower are personal to you as bereaved families, survivors, and residents in the immediate community. Your views and concerns are an important part of the government’s future decision-making.' It had been previously agreed that there would be no changes to the site before the 8th anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy, meaning not before the month of June 2025.

[edit] Principles, promises and recommendations

[edit] Principles

In November of 2018, the then Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government, the Conservative MP James Brokenshire committed to a number of principles regarding the site that included:

• 'Most importantly, the community will continue to be engaged at each step along the way to a lasting memorial;
• The health and safety of those living, working, and at the school in the local area, as well as those working on the site, will continue to take priority.
• decisions that I take about the Tower site will be evidence-based, informed by the advice of public authorities and technical experts; and that,
• I will consult the police and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry to ensure that decision-making does not interfere with the path to justice.'

In September 2019, the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission was established and began a process working closely with the Grenfell community; the bereaved families, survivors, Lancaster West Estate residents, and the immediate community who live in close proximity to Grenfell Tower to understand their hopes and wishes for a future memorial. Its primary promise being the *promise never to forget. To the next generation, we must never forget'. The objectives of the commission being to bring into focus a truly community-led vision for a fitting memorial to commemorate those who lost their lives and those whose lives were forever changed on that terrible night of 14 June, 2017.

[edit] Promises

After being elected, the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission came together and made a promise, which was engraved on a plaque and mounted on the hoarding that surrounds the Tower; it reads:

• 'To those who lost their lives, we promise never to forget.
• To those who survived, we promise never to forget.
• To those who bore witness, we promise never to forget.
• And to the next generation, we promise never to forget.
• Together we will work to build a fitting memorial.
• One that will stand the test of time and act as a permanent symbol of remembrance
• Forever in our hearts.

In May 2022 the commission published its report, 'Remembering Grenfell: our journey so far.' In the report it aimed to present what it had heard from the Grenfell community up until that point and to test its understanding of what it had heard. The report, a culmination of nearly four years of work, set out the Grenfell community’s vision for the memorial, its future management, and the ongoing process of remembering what the community has lost. It aimed to share what the community had said about what the memorial should be like, highlighting where there is common ground in the wants and needs as well as highlighting where there is a lot of difference in views or where people’s wishes are less defined and less clear.

In November 2023, the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission published its second report, Remembering Grenfell: Recommendations and next steps to a memorial, detailing the Grenfell community's wishes for a permanent memorial. The report called on the government to honour its earlier commitments and fulfil its moral duty to deliver all sixteen of the Commission’s recommendations. At that time the commission we made four further promises:

• 'Our first promise is to create a place of dignity and peace. A lasting place where those who had loved ones taken from them can cherish and feel close to their memory, and where our community can remember.
• Our second promise is to create a bold memorial that will help to make sure the tragic events at Grenfell Tower are never forgotten. Not now, not in years to come. We, and the rest of our Grenfell community, are all very clear about that.
• Our third promise is to help to put in place arrangements to guarantee the memorial will be looked after, and not allowed to fade or drift into disrepair.
• Our fourth promise is to ensure the voices and wishes of the Grenfell community are always at the heart of decision-making about the memorial.'

[edit] Recommendations

Based on what the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission heard from the Grenfell community and published in its report (Remembering Grenfell: Recommendations and next steps to a memorial) it published sixteen recommendations for the future memorial design.

1. The families bereaved by the tragedy, those who escaped on the night and lost their homes, and those living close to Grenfell Tower, must always remain at the centre of decisions about the memorial.
2. The memorial must be a sacred space designed and built to last, by which we mean it should be permanent.
3. The memorial must be a peaceful place for remembering and reflecting, both individually and communally, on who and what we have lost.
4. The memorial must incorporate a garden; a green space whose planting conveys a sense of growth and renewal as an aid to remembrance.
5. The memorial must contain a dedicated space for the private expression of grief and mourning for the families who lost loved ones.
6. The memorial’s design must reflect the rich mix of faiths and cultural backgrounds that makes up the Grenfell community, and to which those taken from us and those who survived belong.
7. Designs for the memorial should make sure the world can never forget what happened to our loved ones and our community. Memorial designs must include options for including the names of those taken from us (where families wish this), and must consider the appropriate height and visibility of the memorial.
8. The memorial must last for generations and must never be neglected. Appropriate arrangements must be put in place so that the memorial will be looked after and managed for the future and funds must be put in place so that this can happen.
9. Art has been an important part of the Grenfell community’s path through loss towards hope. The memorial should include a monument (as well as a built structure or other architecture to protect visitors from the weather) and/or artwork that evoke community, love, hope, sadness and those who were taken from us.
10. Water and the use of light were important features mentioned by the Grenfell community. These should be considered in the process of developing the memorial.
11. The memorial must support the needs of families visiting with children. The Commission also recommends that the memorial finds a way to reflect the children we lost in the tragedy, and how our children and young people have endured so much.
12. Once the memorial is built, the legal title and day-to-day management of the memorial site should be vested in an appropriately qualified experienced entity operating at arms’ length from both local and central government. The Royal Parks is an example of an organisation that we believe would be suitable, due to its experience stewarding numerous memorials of national significance. The Commission urges the government to explore the possibility of The Royal Parks, or similar organisations, having a role in the ongoing management and maintenance of the memorial after construction.
13. The Commission recommends the development of an archive, working with experts including the National Archive. Some elements of the archive would potentially only be accessible to bereaved family members and survivors. (Recommendations beyond the Grenfell Tower site).
14. The Commission recommends that a sensitive and reflective digital archive should also be curated with family members and survivors. ((Recommendations beyond the Grenfell Tower site).
15. The Commission recommends a long-term public exhibition. Together with the archives, this will help make sure that current and future generations can learn about and remember the tragedy, the factors that contributed to it, and how the Grenfell community responded to it. (Recommendations beyond the Grenfell Tower site).
16. The Commission recommends that elements of (or from) Grenfell Tower – which cannot be retained as part of the memorial and are not to be conserved – must be safely and respectfully ‘laid to rest’ at a second, appropriate, accessible and sacred site. This site must be agreed with bereaved family members and survivors, and in consultation with local faith leaders. We ask the government to work with the mayor of London and local faith leaders to identify such a site.' (Recommendations beyond the Grenfell Tower site).

[edit] International design competition and selection

On 10 July, 2024, the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission and Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) launched an international design team selection process, with design teams encouraged to register interest and submit an initial proposal by midday on 25 September 2024. On 28 August 2024, a design industry event for interested teams and individuals was held to understand more about the design process and potentially meet other teams. Full information regarding phase 1 of the International design team selection process can be found here.

The recommendations highlighted by the RIBA at the launch of the memorial competition were listed as:

• The Grenfell community must always be central to decisions about the memorial.
• The memorial must be a peaceful, sacred space for individual and communal remembrance and reflection.
• The design must reflect the diverse faiths and cultural backgrounds of the Grenfell community.
• The memorial should include a garden, a monument or other structure, and options for commemorating the names of those lost, featuring art, water, and light.

10 December 2024 saw a meeting with the shortlisted design teams and a phase 1 update on the international design team selection process from the Grenfell Memorial Commission. This confirmed that very strong applications had been received from 28 multi-disciplinary teams, featuring architects, landscape architects, and community engagement specialists, among other disciplines. It is expected that in the spring of 2025 the community will be invited to an ‘exhibition’ of the shortlisted design teams, showing their initial approach, including an illustration of what one part of the memorial might look like. Here approaches can be reviewed and feedback given alongside the teams' proposed approach to working with the community.

To keep up-to-date with the progress of the international design team selection, visit Grenfell Tower Memorial Design.

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