The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea will “continue to take no role in making decisions regarding the site”, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said on Wednesday.
The government will make operational decisions, such as on the site’s safety, security and access arrangements, until the future of the site has been determined by the community.
The announcement comes after concerns were raised at the prospect of the North Kensington site being handed back to RBKC.
The Metropolitan Police announced yesterday they had completed their forensic investigations of the 24-storey tower block, which means it is no longer a crime scene.
Grenfell Tower will continue to be managed by the independent site management team, which has been in place since July 2017. The fire, which caused 72 deaths, occurred on 14 June 2017.
Led by Doug Patterson, chief executive of the London Borough of Bromley, the team is responsible for all aspects of the on-going day-to-day management, such as health and safety and security.
In a statement the Met Police said: “A local policing team will continue to patrol the surrounding area, working and engaging with the local community as well as the site team.”
Natasha Elcock, a former Grenfell resident and the Grenfell United group, said: “It’s a significant moment for survivors and bereaved families to hear that police investigations at the tower are about to be completed.
“We are relieved that the government has listened to us and stepped in to make sure that RBKC will not be managing site and will have no involvement in any decisions about the site.”
In a statement, MHCLG said: “The government has re-committed to putting the Grenfell Tower bereaved, survivors and community at the heart of deciding what happens to the future of the site.”
