CIOB reaction to Government response to Grenfell Tower Inquiry Report

The Chartered Institute of Building has reacted to the Government's response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Report.

Caroline Gumble, CEO at the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), said: “We very much welcome the Government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report, which will provide the construction industry with much-needed clarity and guidance on the actions that must be taken to reduce the risk of such a tragedy happening again.

“The response is clear on the key areas of focus, and the expected timeline for implementing several of the changes. We will work with government, the new Construction Regulator and Chief Construction Adviser once in place, as well as our sister professional bodies, trade associations and wider industry stakeholders to ensure those working in our industry are competent and quality-driven to create a built environment safe for all its users.

“We recognise there is a significant amount of work to do and the introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022, while a positive step, was only the beginning. We are ready to play our part in improving the culture in the sector and ensuring construction professionals are appropriately competent to conduct their roles, not only in the case of high-risk buildings but throughout the wider built environment, ensuring public trust in what we build and maintain.

“Since the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report was published in September 2024, we have introduced mandatory continued professional development (CPD) on building safety for our members to ensure they remain up to date and relevant with developments in building safety and evolving regulation and legislation, including best practice.

“Additionally, we have launched the Principal Contractor Competency Certification Scheme (PCCCS) to provide Principal Contractors with a route to proving their competency as required by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). Our intention is also to develop a similar scheme for Principal Designers, which is set to be available later this year. We are also providing building safety training via our Academy.

“Both the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report and the Government’s response provide an opportunity for the construction sector to reflect on its responsibility to building users and learn lessons from the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Our industry still has a long way to go to change its culture and ensure safety is at the heart of everything we do, and today’s announcement is clear that this must be fully addressed and delivered.”