Grenfell Tower, photo James Ivens

Grenfell Tower, photo James Ivens   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

A director of Grenfell Tower’s landlord company told the public inquiry he “had forgotten” about a secret meeting with builders discussing how to shave £800,000 off refurb costs. Lawyers for the landlord even wrote in 2014, cautioning that the builders’ bid seemed “abnormally low.”

Peter Maddison admitted he didn’t ask why the lethal ‘aluminium-composite material’ cladding was £300,000 cheaper, or whether it complied with fire safety laws. Building contractor Rydon supposedly did not discuss the issue with the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation. There were 72 confirmed deaths in the 2017 inferno.