Government Grenfell progress report at a glance

On 29 May 2025 the government published its first progress report on the implementation of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 2 recommendations, also updating the Phase 1 recommendations related to Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs).

The recommendations were grouped thematically using the same themes as the Inquiry; the construction industry; fire and rescue services; response and recovery; and vulnerable people, with a summary of progress, wider reforms and updates described in detail. Future reports are planned on a quarterly basis (Feb, May, Sept and Dec) until all have been implemented.

Last updated: May 29 2025

The recommendations and response updates are summarised in our article first quarterly Grenfell Tower Inquiry Government progress report.

Below is a point by point glance at the same items.

To see the full report follow this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/grenfell-tower-inquiry-government-progress-report/progress-report-summary-update

• Report recommendation responses a line at a time (numbers represent each inquiry recommendation)
  • CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY recommendation progress responses 1-28

1. Unify industry under one regulator with coherent, trusted system and sufficient resources.
2. Urgently review and clarify higher-risk building definition in Building Safety Act.
3. Consolidate fire safety responsibilities under a single Secretary of State for streamlined oversight.
4. Appoint permanent Chief Construction Adviser to lead reform and provide strategic industry advice.
5. Review and revise statutory guidance, especially Approved Document B, for clarity and structure.
6. Include clear legal disclaimers in guidance that Building Regulations take precedence.
7. Reassess compartmentation assumptions in guidance amid new construction methods and materials.
8. Require qualified fire engineers to calculate fire spread and evacuation times.
9. Diversify advisory bodies to include academics, fire engineers, and broader industry expertise.
10. Complete fire safety strategy review for higher-risk buildings, including needs of vulnerable occupants.
11. Continuously update Approved Document B and improve external wall assessment methods.
12. Ensure BS 9414 doesn’t replace fire engineer judgment in assessing façades.
13. Establish robust construction product conformity system with legislation and transparent guidance.
14. Mandate disclosure and verification of all construction product performance claims.
15. Legally protect and regulate fire engineering profession through independent regulatory body.
16. Expand high-quality master’s level fire engineering course availability.
17. Define core knowledge and skills of competent fire engineers via expert panel.
18. Promote fire engineering education for construction and fire service professionals.
19. Ensure architect education updates post-Grenfell are comprehensive and sufficient.
20. Consult on requiring principal designers’ senior managers to confirm Gateway 2 compliance.
21. Introduce principal contractor licencing with safety undertakings for higher-risk buildings.
22. Review potential for nationalised, independent building control free from commercial interests.
23. Panel will recommend future of building control functions; report due October 2025.
24. Create digital construction product library to improve design safety and transparency.
25. Maintain public record of post-2024 inquiry recommendations and progress on GOV.UK.
26. Mandate accreditation for fire risk assessors to standardise and verify competence.
27. Standardise fire service control keys and switches via NFCC-led plan.
28. Ensure regular inspections of gas isolation valves and improve stakeholder awareness.
    • FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES recommendation progress responses 29-41
29. Establish independent College of Fire and Rescue to improve training, standards, leadership, and research.
30. Ensure Fire and Rescue College is well-staffed, firefighter-led, and meets operational training needs.
31. Review confirms LFB control room improved; awaiting ministerial sign-off for full completion.
32. Inspectors assessing LFB incident commander training; completion depends on agreement amongst officials and ministers.
33. LFB's high-risk building data handling improved; final confirmation pending ministerial approval.
34. LFB promotes operational learning; completion depends on NFCC plan metrics under review.
35. NFCC finalising safer radio use plan, especially for high-rise incidents and gas environments.
36. Encourage services to provide digital radios to all firefighters. See Recommendation 35.
37. Improve training for communication loss; delivery plan due April 2025 with set completion metrics.
38. Enhance firefighter water supply training; plan and evaluation framework due April 2025.
39. Improve communication with water suppliers; NFCC delivery plan and metrics to follow April 2025.
40. BSI to revise BS 750 for clearer hydrant testing standards; update expected post-consultation.
41. Update training on dynamic risks and crew briefings; delivery plan to set completion metrics.
    • RESPONSE AND RECOVERY recommendation progress responses 42-55
42. Reviewing Civil Contingencies Act to give ministers emergency powers during responder failure.
43. Consulting on mandatory collaboration between responders and voluntary/community/faith groups.
44. Updating emergency guidance to strengthen recovery focus and multi-agency coordination.
45. Adding humanitarian considerations as core emergency planning and response principle.
46. Revising London Gold guidance; leadership training starts late 2025.
47. Adopting national LRF standards; peer review and training academy launched.
48. Developing system to verify responder training frequency and quality.
49. Piloting resilience training for local authority leaders and staff by 2025/26.
50. Develop systems to track missing/displaced persons in emergencies.
51. Ensure emergency housing respects cultural and religious needs.
52. Include emergency financial support for affected individuals in plans.
53. Plan for key worker roles to ensure support continuity.
54. Use appropriate tech/language to communicate with those needing help.
55. Deliver emergency public info through modern, accessible communication channels.
    • VULNERABLE PEOPLE and phase 1 recommendations progress report (3 joined)
56. Government to introduce secondary legislation June 2025 requiring Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for high-rise buildings and medium-rise buildings with simultaneous evacuation strategies.
57. Building owners or managers must engage with vulnerable residents, improve fire safety and evacuation measures, ensure all residents understand fire procedures, and provide evacuation information to fire services.
58. The legislation mandates building-level evacuation plans. Funding allocated for 2025/26 to support social housing providers, with future funding in review. Guidance will follow regulations, shaped by stakeholder input, including disability groups. A toolkit is also being developed to assist Responsible Persons with implementation

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