Civil settlement reached over Grenfell Tower fire claims

Arconic, the cladding company involved in the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, has settled civil claims with more than 900 people, including survivors, bereaved family members, and residents. 

The fire killed 72 people, and the settlement is separate from the ongoing inquiry chaired by Sir Martin Moore-Bick. 

Arconic has also agreed to contribute to a restorative justice project for the affected community. 

The Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation, which was appointed by the local council to manage its housing stock, said that while the settlement would not mitigate the loss and trauma, it was a step towards justice. 

The settlement does not include all victims, and the amount of compensation will be distributed based on individual circumstances. 

The legal firms representing the claimants stressed that the agreement would not affect potential criminal charges in the future. In November, lead counsel Richard Millett KC accused firms of a “merry-go-round of buck-passing” and a “spider’s web of blame” that will make the inquiry’s task harder.