Grenfell Tower will be torn down by the end of 2018 as fire rescue teams report some apartments still in ‘perfect condition’
THE charred remains of the Grenfell Tower could be torn down as early as the end of next year.
Steps to pull down the burnt-out building, which was the scene of a horrific blaze that claimed the lives of 71 people, are set to begin as early as next month, it has been revealed.
The tower will be coated in protective wrap from mid-August to help forensic investigations continue, as well as to ease the building's eventual deconstruction.
It comes as it was revealed some of the flats inside the building had escaped the fatal fire completely, and were still in perfect condition.
Michael Lockwood, who has been inside the building five times, told a public meeting on Wednesday evening he estimated that the recovery operation could last until mid-November, while the criminal investigation involving material being collected from the building could go on until January.
Speaking at the Notting Hill Methodist Church, he said: "I think that to be honest, the building will stay up throughout 2018.
"Then towards the end of 2018, I think we could start to bring it down, if that is what the community wants, and the scaffolding will help us to do that because we can do that within the wrap."
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The final death toll of the June 14 blaze will not be known this year.
Mr Lockwood added some flats inside the building were "completely untouched and in perfect condition and there are some that are absolutely devastated".
Personal possessions could be retrieved from about 30 of the undamaged flats.
But he said it would happen "in consultation with those residents, and at the speed that they want".
He said the community's input would help to decide what was eventually placed on the site.
Meanwhile, communities secretary Sajid Javid wrote a letter read out at the public meeting in which he said the taskforce assembled in the wake of the disaster will be in place for "however long is necessary".
He wrote: "I envisage them to be in place for however long is necessary to get the job done - in reality, this is likely to mean for at least one year."
The outside experts were assembled following outrage over the response to the disaster and took over responsibility for Kensington and Chelsea Council's housing, regeneration, community engagement and governance services.
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