Morning Briefing: BRE role in the spotlight

In the news

Is the Building Research Establishment (BRE) impartial enough to carry out cladding testing for the government post-Grenfell?

Well, a respected academic thinks not, Sky News has reported.

Professor Richard Hull, a fire science specialist at the University of Central Lancashire, argues that the BRE has too many conflicts of interest to be a “neutral player.”

The BRE has not commented in response. Inside Housing tried to contact it this morning.

Also on Grenfell, the BBC is reporting that the burning cladding on the block would have released 14 more times more heat than safety tests allow.

The Independent, meanwhile, has a report of a confrontation between a tearful young resident living near Grenfell Tower and authorities at a public meeting last night.

The BBC also reported that Kensington and Chelsea Council accepted nearly £50m in commuted sums in lieu of on-site affordable housing last year.

As Inside Housing has previously shown, use of such payments has been on the rise, particularly in high-value market areas.

Social media

Inside Housing’s ‘From the archive’ showed 30 years ago this week Westminster Council was criticised for plans to rehome people outside of the borough:

30 years ago this week - Westminster Council was criticised for seeking to house families outside of the borough t.co/bhOOsxZwOr

— Inside Housing (@insidehousing)

30 years ago this week - Westminster Council was criticised for seeking to house families outside of the borough https://t.co/bhOOsxZwOr

— Inside Housing (@insidehousing) July 17, 2017

This struck a chord with a number of people on Twitter who saw parallels with the situation in high-value London boroughs today:

We have come so far in 30 years.

— Kevin McCain (@Kevin_J_McCain)

We have come so far in 30 years.

— Kevin McCain (@Kevin_J_McCain) July 18, 2017

What’s on

• The National Housing Federation is hosting a conference on the ‘The future of community investment in the South West’, in Weston-super-Mare
• Prime Minister’s Questions will take place after 12pm
• Kensington and Chelsea Council will hold a full council meeting tonight. Councillors will discuss the rehoming of survivors and plans for regeneration
• Queen Mary University of London is hosting an event called Grenfell Tower: The Avoidable Tragedy