Progress in implementing Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations and emerging caselaw

Nearly nine years after the Grenfell Tower fire, the UK Government continues to implement the wide-ranging reforms recommended by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry (the Inquiry). The latest progress report provides an update on the implementation of the Inquiry’s Phase 2 recommendations. 

The report represents the first stage in what is expected to be a series of regular updates to Parliament, tracking delivery of the reforms intended to address systemic failures identified by the Inquiry. Alongside legislative and regulatory reform, a growing body of litigation is beginning to define how liability for historic defects and remediation costs will be allocated across the construction supply chain. Together, regulatory reform and emerging caselaw are reshaping the legal landscape for developers, contractors, consultants and insurers.

The Phase 2 Report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, published in September 2024, made 58 recommendations aimed at addressing systemic failures across the construction industry, fire safety regulation, emergency response, and public accountability. Of these, 37 were directed at central government, with the remainder addressed to regulators, industry bodies and emergency services. 

In its formal response published in February 2025, the Government accepted 49 recommendations in full and the remaining nine in principle, signalling a commitment to wide-ranging reform of the building safety system. 

The most recent progress update of February 2026 confirms that implementation work is underway across all recommendations and that a number have already been completed. As of early 2026, twelve recommendations have been discharged, including two residual Phase 1 recommendations. 

Several themes emerge from the Government’s progress report:

• Continuing expansion of the Building Safety Regulator’s role. On 27 January 2026, the Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) became a separate legal entity, underlining its importance within the post-Grenfell ramework. The BSR has also appointed an expert panel to undertake a comprehensive review of the Building Regulations, with interim findings expected in spring 2026 and a full report anticipated in summer 2026. That review is likely to be closely watched across the sector, particularly given longstanding concerns that the regulatory framework and supporting guidance have been overly complex, fragmented and open to inconsistent interpretation.
• Definition of higher-risk buildings. The Government has also, for now, decided not to amend the definition of higher-risk buildings. There had been some speculation that the definition might move away from a predominantly height-based approach and instead focus more directly on the vulnerability of residents. However, the current position is that there is insufficient evidence to justify that change at present, although the issue is said to remain under review by the BSR. That will be of interest to those involved in residential, care and mixed-use schemes, where the boundaries of the higher-risk regime continue to be scrutinised carefully.
• Single construction regulator. Another notable reform under consideration is the proposal for a single construction regulator. In December 2025, the Government published its consultation paper on this issue, with the consultation period running until 20 March 2026. Recommendations are expected in summer 2026. Although the final shape of any new model remains to be seen, the proposal reflects a clear policy direction towards greater centralisation, oversight and consistency across what has historically been a diffuse and sometimes overlapping regulatory environment.
• Professional competence. This is a major area of focus. The Inquiry recommended the establishment of a panel to advise on the competence of fire engineers and related specialists. In August 2025, the British Standards Institution published BS 8674:2025, setting out the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours expected of a competent fire risk assessor. The Government had already established an advisory panel in April 2025, and that panel has since published an Authoritative Statement identifying the principles that will underpin future regulation in this area. Further proposals are expected later this year. These developments are significant not only from a regulatory perspective, but also in the context of future civil claims, where issues of competence, scope of appointment and standard of care are likely to remain central.
• Reform of the construction products regime. One of the most significant developments is the Government’s programme to overhaul the regulation of construction products. The Inquiry identified systemic failures in product testing, certification and marketing, including the manipulation of fire test data by manufacturers. In response, the Government has published a Construction Products Reform White Paper, proposing stronger product safety requirements and the creation of a more robust regulatory framework governing the testing and certification of construction materials. Alongside that, the Government has launched a consultation on General Safety Requirements for Construction Products, due to close on 20 May 2026. Taken together, these steps indicate a clear intention to strengthen controls over how products are assessed, described and placed on the market.
• Accountability and transparency measures. The Government has also committed to improving transparency around implementation progress. A publicly accessible record of all Grenfell Inquiry recommendations and their implementation status has now been established on GOV.UK, with quarterly updates planned. The progress reports form part of a broader effort to rebuild trust in the regulatory system and demonstrate accountability for reform.
• Fire safety and emergency response. Further work is underway in relation to fire and rescue services and emergency preparedness. The Phase 2 recommendations emphasised improvements in training, operational planning and information-sharing between agencies. 
• The Government’s updates indicate continuing work across these areas, including measures relating to personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) and improvements to incident command systems.
• Cladding remediation. Although not strictly a Phase 2 recommendation, the progress report also notes continued progress in the remediation of unsafe cladding across England. Recent updates suggest that remediation work has now been completed on over 90% of high-rise residential buildings identified as containing dangerous cladding, although challenges remain for mid-rise buildings and non-ACM materials. Despite these developments, commentators and campaign groups continue to raise concerns about the pace of reform and the time taken to secure accountability through criminal investigations.

A shifting legal landscape

Alongside regulatory reform, the courts are increasingly shaping the legal framework through which historic building safety defects and remediation costs will be resolved.

A series of recent cases before the Technology and Construction Court and the appellate courts are beginning to clarify how liability may be allocated across developers, contractors and professional consultants. These developments are explored in more detail in our accompanying article, “Emerging Caselaw on Building Safety and Post-Grenfell Remediation.”

Taken together, the Government’s reform programme and the growing body of litigation demonstrate that the building safety landscape continues to evolve rapidly in the years following Grenfell.