Grenfell contractor ‘took some savings for themselves’ on choice of cladding

The inquiry into the 2017 Grenfell Tower blaze that killed 72 people heard that Rydon “came to the conclusion” that the project “didn’t need a fire consultant”. File photo

The main contractor on the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower in England presented altered figures and “took some of the savings for themselves” when it came to the choice of cladding, an inquiry in the UK has heard.

Rydon told Kensington and Chelsea tenant management organisation (TMO) in March 2014 that they could save £293,368 if they chose to wrap the west London tower block in an alternative aluminium cassette form of cladding, or £376,175 if they went for a face-fixed cladding.