Relatives of those killed in the Grenfell Tower disaster say the UK government will demolish the apartment complex, seven years after the London building was consumed by fire.
One of the worst disasters in modern British history, the blaze broke out after an electrical fault in a refrigerator on the fourth floor on the morning of June 14, 2017.
The fire then spread uncontrollably via the building's flammable cladding, engulfing many of the building's 23 storeys and killing 72 people.
Grenfell Next of Kin (GNK), which represents relatives of nearly half of those who died, said British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner announced her decision to families and survivors at a meeting on Wednesday evening.
The demolition of the tower, which is covered in protective wrap, will only start after the eighth anniversary of the tragedy in June this year, the group said.
"Do we wish the whole tower could stand forever? Yes. Is that an option? Not from a structural point of view," GNK said.
Engineers advising the government said the tower's structure would worsen over time, and that the building or part of it that was significantly damaged should be carefully taken down.
Hope for permanent 'reminder for future generations'
Last year, a public inquiry delivered a scathing verdict on the failings of successive governments, the construction industry, and in particular the firms involved in installing the flammable cladding to the structure a year before the fire.
The 1,700-page report also said the local fire authorities were ill-prepared for a high-rise fire.
It said the blaze was "the culmination of decades of failure by central government and other bodies in positions of responsibility".
Grenfell United, another group representing those affected by the fire, expressed concern after the deputy prime minister's decision.
"Ignoring the voices of bereaved on the future of our loved ones' grave site is disgraceful and unforgivable," it said.
Lancaster West Residents' Voices, representing those who live in the estate that the tower is part of, posted on X that the group hoped for some sort of permanent memorial.
"Some sort of infrastructure from the building must stay... (as) a reminder to future generations."
Kensington MP Joe Powell, whose seat covers the area where the tower is located, said the decision to plan for the tower to come down was not taken lightly.
"Grenfell Tower will always be in our hearts as a community," he said.
A commission looking at a future memorial at the tower's site said in its 2023 report that any dismantling should be done "with care and respect".
A final design for the memorial is expected by spring 2026, and construction could begin that year.
ABC/Reuters
