Housing Official Involved in Grenfell Cost-Cutting Appointed to New Council Role

A housing official who played a role in cost-cutting measures at Grenfell Tower has been appointed to a new, high-paying council position, drawing sharp criticism from the families of victims.

Laura Johnson, formerly the housing director for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), has been made the permanent director of development and property at the Barnet Group. This organization manages approximately 13,000 council homes in the borough. Her annual salary for this role is reported to be £157,078.

An inquiry into the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, which resulted in 72 fatalities, found that Ms. Johnson had advocated for switching to a contractor who could perform the tower's renovation works at a lower cost. This decision ultimately led to the use of combustible plastic-filled panels instead of metal cladding. The inquiry also noted that she delayed the installation of self-closing fire doors, despite warnings from the London Fire Brigade, citing "financial and practical reasons."

Ed Daffarn, a survivor of the fire who escaped from the 16th floor, described the appointment as "an absolutely outrageous decision." He told The Guardian, "The fact that we, as bereaved survivors, haven’t received any justice nine years after the fire, and yet the people that were involved in senior decision-making are able to carry on working in the social housing sector, have responsibility for health and safety, and receive massive salaries - it feels so disrespectful. If I was a resident in a Barnet council home, I’d be absolutely petrified."

Ms. Johnson had been serving in an interim capacity at the Barnet Group before her permanent appointment in August. A spokesperson for the Barnet Group stated that she was the "strongest candidate" following a competitive and publicly advertised recruitment process. The group acknowledged awareness of the Grenfell inquiry findings and stated they were carefully considered, along with Ms. Johnson's professional experience, subsequent performance, references, qualifications, and overall suitability for the role. They concluded she was legally eligible for the position.