Work to take down Grenfell Tower needs new consent

The government has applied for planning permission to finish taking down Grenfell Tower.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has submitted an application to the Planning Inspectorate for the "sensitive works" needed to carefully dismantle the tower, apart from its basement.

The process is separate from a planning application, expected later this year, for a memorial at the site.

Work to take down the tower began in September 2025 and is expected to last about two years. A community-led memorial design will then be submitted by architectural firm Freehaus.

Until now, the demolition had been authorised under permitted development rules, but that permission lasts only 12 months. The new Crown Development Application will be decided by the secretary of state.

Survivors and bereaved families said they did not want Kensington and Chelsea Council involved in future decisions on Grenfell, so it will not determine the application itself, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

In a letter to Joe Powell, MP for North Kensington, Local Government Minister Alison McGovern acknowledged the sensitivity of the site.

"To protect the independence of the planning decision making process, a different minister must take planning decisions related to the Tower. I am writing to you as the minister responsible for those decisions on behalf of the secretary of state. "

She said Minister Samantha Dixon was responsible for the Grenfell community and tower, but a different minister had to take planning decisions to protect the independence of the process.

She added: "Please be assured that MHCLG's Ministers and officials stand ready to support you and your constituents through this process."

The application raised several concerns about the effects of the work.

The MHCLG said there would be extensive monitoring and suppression of dust, while noise would be reduced with well-silenced equipment and vibration monitoring.

Concerns were also raised about possible bat roosts in the building's crevices and nesting birds in nearby trees. Static bat detectors will be deployed and floor-by-floor endoscope checks of crevices carried out.

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