Ex-director who oversaw Grenfell cost-cutting leaves council housing role after backlash

A housing director who oversaw cost cutting at Grenfell Tower before the fatal fire has left a £150,000-a-year senior council housing role after a backlash from bereaved families and survivors.

Laura Johnson was the director of housing at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) at the time of the 2017 Grenfell fire which killed 72 people;p, and was criticised in the subsequent inquiry for her role in budget-cutting decisions prior to the blaze.

It was found that she pushed for a new contractor to carry out the tower’s renovation works on a lower budget, which ultimately meant metal cladding was swapped for combustible plastic-filled panels to save money.

In August, she was appointed the director of development and property at the Barnet Group, which manages the borough’s 13,000 council homes, on a salary of £157,078, a move described by bereaved families and survivors as “outrageous and disrespectful”.

In a letter to Joe Powell, the Labour MP for Kensington and Bayswater where Grenfell Tower stood, the company confirmed that Johnson was “no longer employed by The Barnet Group”.

Eamon McGoldrick, the chair of the board, said in the letter: “We fully recognise the depth of feeling surrounding the Grenfell Tower tragedy and its continuing impact on bereaved families, survivors, residents and the wider community.

“We also fully acknowledge legitimate public interest concerning governance of senior appointments.”

He said he “owed obligations of confidentiality” to employees and could not go into specific details about Johnson’s situation. It is not clear exactly what led to Johnson’s job being terminated.

Powell said: “It’s totally inappropriate for any individual criticised by the inquiry to continue to work in housing, particularly while criminal investigations are ongoing. It’s right that Laura Johnson is no longer in such a position.

“The Grenfell Tower inquiry was clear about the failings of the RBKC and senior individuals involved in the management of their housing, including the tower.”

Last month, a Barnet Group spokesperson insisted Johnson was the “strongest candidate” for the role in a competitive field, and that it had considered her “professional experience, subsequent performance, references, qualifications and overall suitability for the role”.

A Barnet Group spokesperson said: “We can confirm that Laura Johnson is no longer employed by The Barnet Group.

“In common with any employer, we owe obligations of confidentiality to those working for us, applying for, or being considered for any role at any level. For that reason, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”

Last month the Metropolitan police said it had asked prosecutors to consider charges including manslaughter and fraud against 54 individuals, and 20 companies and organisations, in relation to the Grenfell fire.

The Crown Prosecution Service said charging decisions would be made before the 10th anniversary of the disaster on 14 June 2027.