In Britain, former housing director appointed to senior role after Grenfell findings
In the United Kingdom, Laura Johnson, who headed the housing department of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea during the 2017 fire at London’s Grenfell Tower, has been appointed permanent director of development and property at Barnet Group. The company manages 13,000 council homes in the Borough of Barnet, The Guardian reports.
Reaction from those affected
Fire survivors and relatives of those who died criticized the appointment and called on Barnet Group to reconsider the decision. Ed Daffarn, who escaped from the 16th floor of Grenfell Tower after repeatedly warning about serious fire risks, called the decision outrageous. He said that if he lived in a Barnet council home, he would fear for his safety.
Grenfell United, which represents survivors and the families of those who died, said Johnson’s permanent appointment demonstrated significant disregard for the inquiry’s findings. Seventy-two people died in the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017.
Inquiry findings and the company’s position
The fire inquiry concluded that in her previous role, Johnson pushed for a new contractor to be brought in for the tower’s refurbishment with a smaller budget. According to the inquiry, this ultimately led to metal cladding being replaced with panels containing combustible plastic filler in order to save money.
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The inquiry also found that Johnson slowed the installation of self-closing mechanisms on fire doors for financial and practical reasons. This occurred despite warnings from the London Fire Brigade that the absence of such mechanisms posed risks to evacuation routes.
Before her permanent appointment in August, Johnson had been doing the job on an interim basis. Her annual salary is £157,078. Barnet Group said it was aware of the inquiry’s findings, took them into account during the selection process, and considered Johnson the strongest candidate following an open competition.
London police said they are seeking charges against 57 individuals and 20 companies in connection with the fire. However, law enforcement officials have not publicly named these individuals. The Crown Prosecution Service expects to make a decision on charges by June 2027.
