A housing director who oversaw cost reductions at Grenfell Tower prior to the fatal fire has departed from a 150,000-pound-a-year senior council housing position following significant backlash from bereaved families and survivors.
Laura Johnson served as the director of housing at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea during the 2017 tragedy that claimed 72 lives, and the subsequent public inquiry criticized her involvement in pre-blaze budget cuts. The inquiry revealed that she advocated for a new contractor to perform renovation work on a reduced budget, leading to the substitution of metal cladding with combustible plastic-filled panels to achieve cost savings.
In August, she secured the position of director of development and property at the Barnet Group, an organization managing 13,000 council homes in the borough, with a salary of 157,078 pounds. This appointment was promptly characterized by bereaved families and survivors as outrageous and disrespectful.
In a communication directed to Joe Powell, the Labour MP representing Kensington and Bayswater where the tower stood, the company verified that Johnson was no longer in the employ of the Barnet Group. Eamon McGoldrick, the board chair, stated in the letter that the organization fully recognizes the profound emotions surrounding the disaster and its ongoing effect on the community, while also acknowledging legitimate public interest regarding senior executive governance.
McGoldrick noted that confidentiality obligations owed to staff members prevented him from discussing specific details concerning Johnson's departure, and the exact circumstances leading to the termination of her employment remain unspecified.
Parliamentary representative Powell expressed approval of the change, stating that it is entirely inappropriate for anyone criticized by the inquiry to remain employed in the housing sector, especially while criminal investigations remain active, and emphasized the inquiry's clear findings regarding management failures at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Previously, a representative for the Barnet Group defended the hiring decision by asserting that Johnson was the top candidate following a competitive recruitment process that evaluated her professional background, subsequent performance, references, qualifications, and general suitability.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police announced last month that it had requested prosecutors to evaluate potential charges, including manslaughter and fraud, against 54 individuals and 20 corporate entities in connection with the fire. The Crown Prosecution Service indicated that decisions regarding criminal charges will be finalized prior to the tenth anniversary of the disaster on June 14, 2027.