The government has formally applied for planning permission to complete the deconstruction of Grenfell Tower, a process distinct from the upcoming application for the site’s permanent memorial.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has submitted an application to the Planning Inspectorate for the "sensitive works" required to carefully dismantle the tower, excluding its basement.
This route was chosen following wishes from survivors and bereaved families that Kensington and Chelsea Council should not be involved in future decisions regarding Grenfell.
Deconstruction of the tower commenced in September 2025 and is anticipated to take about two years.
Following this, a memorial, designed through a community-led process by Freehaus, will be submitted for planning approval.
The current application became necessary as a previous "permitted development" planning permission, which had authorised the initial take-down, was only valid for 12 months.
In a letter, Alison McGovern MP, Minister for Local Government and Homelessness, said that a Crown Development Application for the rest of the tower’s take-down has been sent to the Planning Inspectorate to be decided by the Secretary of State.
Addressing Joe Powell, who is MP for North Kensington, she said: “I would like to start by recognising the sensitivity of the Grenfell Tower and the deep trauma experienced by residents regarding this awful tragedy. You will know that Minister Samantha Dixon is the Minister responsible for the Grenfell community and Tower.
“However, to protect the independence of the planning decision making process, a different Minister must take planning decisions related to the Tower. I am writing to you as the Minister responsible for those decisions on behalf of the Secretary of State. Please be assured that MHCLG’s Ministers and officials stand ready to support you and your constituents through this process.”
Several concerns about the effects of the take-down of the tower were raised in the application. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has said that there will be extensive monitoring and suppression of dust at the site.
Noise will also be mitigated by well-silenced equipment and vibration monitoring.
Another concern is the potential of bat roosts in the building’s crevices and nesting birds in nearby trees.
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The project will see static bat detectors deployed and floor-by-floor endoscope checks of crevices.