Decision on whether to take down Grenfell Tower will be made this year
Work won't happen until after fifth anniversary
A decision on whether or not Grenfell Tower will be taken down will be made later this year.
In a letter posted on social medis, the government says people will be invited to in-person and online meetings to hear from structural engineers.
Any work on the building won't take polace until after the fifth anniversary of the blaze which claimed 72 lives in June 2017.
The letter, signed by Alistair Watters, director of the Grenfell site and programme at the MHCLG, said:
"Following important advice from structural engineers about the condition of the tower, we need to consider this summer if, and when, the tower should be carefully taken down to maintain safety.
This is so that we can plan for this as part of the ongoing safety works taking place within the tower.
I want to reassure you that it will be at least a year before we begin to implement any decision, which means there will be no change to the tower before the fifth anniversary in 2022. The work of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry will continue during this period.''
The letter, dated May 7, said that people will be invited to in-person and online meetings this month to hear from the MHCLG's Grenfell site team and structural engineers. It added:
We want to ensure bereaved families, survivors and residents have access to the information that will inform a decision on the tower before it is made.
Later this month, and after we have been able to discuss it with you first, we will publish the information that will inform a decision on the tower.''
An MHCLG spokesperson said:
"Following important safety advice from our structural engineers, we now need to sensitively consider what the future of the Grenfell Tower will be, drawing on expert advice.
We know how important and sensitive this decision is, and we continue to engage with those most affected at every step.
No final decision has been taken and we will carefully take into account the views of the community.''