UK

London fire: Flats acquired for Grenfell Tower survivors

  • 21 June 2017
  • From the section UK
Grenfell Tower Image copyright AFP

Survivors of London's Grenfell Tower fire are to be rehomed in a luxury development in the heart of Kensington, the government has said.

Sixty-eight one, two and three-bedroom flats have been acquired at the Kensington Row development, it said.

The apartments are "newly built social housing" in a complex where the price of private homes starts at £1.5m.

At least 79 people died and many more were left homeless after fire engulfed the North Kensington tower a week ago.

There was widespread criticism and anger from residents at the slow and chaotic official response to the devastating blaze.

Earlier, protesters demanding "justice for Grenfell" marched with anti-government protesters through London.

Image copyright AFP

The funeral of 23-year-old Syrian refugee Mohammed Alhajali, who was among the first victims of the fire to be named, took place.

His family and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan attended the ceremony, called a Janazat, at an east London mosque.

'United by his body'

His family said: "His very last words to us were how much he missed us.

"Ever since he moved away from us, we tried to be united with him and his brothers, and now, instead, we have been united by his body."

Image copyright Syria Solidarity Campaign
Image caption Mr Alhajali became separated from his brother as they tried to escape from the burning building

The upmarket Kensington Row complex includes a 24-hour concierge service and a private cinema, the website of developer St Edward says.

Each new home, which the government says will be completed to a high-specification, will be fully furnished.

The flats are expected to be ready by the end of July.

It is unclear whether the new tenants from Grenfell will have access to the same facilities as those in the private properties, some of which cost as much as £8.5m.
Image caption St Edward has taken on extra builders to speed up completion of the work

The Department for Communities and Local Government said extra public money had been found so the flats could be fitted out more quickly, and more builders had been taken on.

It said the "expectation was that these new properties would be offered as one of the options to permanently rehouse residents from Grenfell Tower".

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said Grenfell residents had been through "some of the most harrowing and traumatic experiences imaginable".

"Our priority is to get everyone who has lost their home permanently rehoused locally as soon as possible, so that they can begin to rebuild their lives," he added.

A number of inquests are expected to be opened and adjourned later.

They are those of artist Ya-Haddy Sisi Saye, 24, also known as Khadija Saye, retired lorry driver Anthony Disson, 65, Khadija Khalloufi, a 52-year-old woman, Abufars Ibrahim, 39, and married couple Omar Belkadi and Farah Hamdan.