Grenfell Tower to be demolished, according to reports

It's been four years since the fire at Grenfell killed 72 people

Ministers are preparing to announce that Grenfell Tower will be demolished four years after a fire killed 72 people, according to a report in The Times. Sources in Whitehall gave told the Times that the decision to pull down the tower's remains is a "fait accompli", with its continued presence supposedly posing a safety risk to the local community. Experts hired by the government to advise on the matter have told them "unambiguously and unanimously" that the tower should be "carefully taken down." Housing secretary Robert Jenrick is reported to have been warned that Kensington Aldridge Academy, a secondary school with 1,200 students in the shadow of Grenfell, is at particular risk due to the tower's presence. The families affected by the fire have been told to expect a decision to be made in the next month.

A spokesman for the housing ministry said: "We know how important and sensitive this decision is and no decision has been taken. Following important independent safety advice from structural engineers, we are engaging closely with the community as we consider the evidence, including the safety concerns raised, and what the future of the Grenfell Tower should be.

"We have now published this advice to ensure those most affected have access to the information that will inform a decision on the Tower, before one is reached."