Responding to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry terms of reference, RIBA President Jane Duncan said:
“The RIBA is supportive of the aims of Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s inquiry. It is right that the terms of reference includes an examination of the adequacy of building and fire regulations, as well as other areas relating to the construction of Grenfell Tower and other high rise residential buildings.
“It is disappointing however that the terms of the Inquiry do not explicitly mention the overall regulatory and procurement context for the construction of buildings in the UK. We consider this examination crucial to understanding the often complicated division of design responsibilities and the limited level of independent oversight of construction. These pervade many current building procurement approaches prevalent in the public and housing association sectors. Such regulatory and procurement concerns should not be dismissed as they would have helped set the full context for the decisions that were made at Grenfell Tower and at other residential buildings. This is the missing piece of the puzzle and we will continue to make this case over the course of the inquiry, and to UK Government and others.”
ENDS
Notes:
- Read the terms of reference for the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. www.architecture.com
