Andy Roe, the head of the body established to enhance safety in London's tall buildings following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, has stated that "everyone failed" in relation to the disaster. Roe, who leads the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), described the failure as systemic, encompassing public and private institutions, local government, the building's management, and manufacturers.
Speaking to BBC London, Roe, who has been in his post for approximately a year, reflected on witnessing the loss of 72 lives. He emphasized that his perspective is informed by his direct experience of the tragedy, stating, "We saw the disrespect and destruction of a community that should have been listened to." He added that he is "not interested in heroes and villains" but rather in the collective responsibility of institutions.
Roe specifically named the London Fire Brigade as an institution that let the community and its own firefighters down due to a lack of preparation and foresight, despite acknowledging "unbelievable heroism from rank and file firefighters on the night." He characterized the event as a "total system failure."
The BSR is tasked with overseeing the design and safety of tower blocks 18 meters or taller, requiring construction firms to submit designs for approval. The organization is also involved in the remediation of unsafe buildings.
Currently, 192 high-rise blocks in London are undergoing remediation, a figure higher than the rest of the country combined. Additionally, nearly 90 new high-rise buildings are in progress in the capital, with a significant portion of recent new-build decisions made in London.
Roe and his colleague Charlie Pugsley, also new to their roles, are working to clear backlogs in building applications and expedite the remediation process. They have stressed the importance of closer collaboration with the construction industry, noting a generally positive response.
However, Roe issued a warning regarding "bad actors" within the industry. He indicated that the BSR plans to implement a "slightly more vigorous enforcement policy" in the coming year, stating, "We will come for you if you're a bad actor." He reiterated his focus on "our responsibilities and what we do to lead change" rather than assigning blame. Mage8: The top floors of Grenfell Tower in London, covered up with material featuring signs showing two large green hearts and the words 'Grenfell - forever in our hearts'