Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Timeline

Fire at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington killed 72 people.

Prime Minister Theresa May announced a public inquiry.

Prime Minister Theresa May's statement to the House of Commons announcing the public inquiry, to be established under the Inquiries Act 2005, and its chair, on the same day. Applies to the whole inquiry (pre-phase split).

Same statement as the "announced" row: "I am announcing today the appointment of Sir Martin Moore-Bick to head the Public Inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire." The Inquiry's own key-documents page separately lists a Prime Minister's appointment letter dated 28 June 2017 (title only, not independently fetched this pass).

Prime Minister's response accepting in full the Chairman's 10 August 2017 recommendation. Applies to the whole inquiry; both Phase 1 and Phase 2 operated under this single, unamended Terms of Reference (see grenfell_instruments.tsv).

First published core participants list: 532 individuals and organisations designated by that date (504 bereaved/survivors/residents, 28 organisations). Applies to the whole inquiry (pre-phase split).

Phase 1, treated here as the Inquiry's interim report (the Inquiry itself calls it the "Phase 1 report"; Theresa May's 29 June 2017 statement said she expected the Chair "to produce an interim report as early as possible"). The gov.uk government-response page states the Phase 1 report "was released on 30 October 2019."

Phase 1. Joint response from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and the Home Office, published 21 January 2020, responding to the 30 October 2019 Phase 1 report.

Phase 2. Last substantive evidence-type hearing page before closing statements began in November 2022; corroborated by the Inquiry's own Financial Report to 31 March 2023: "the Inquiry continued to hold Phase 2 hearings which concluded in July 2022."

Prime Minister apologised on behalf of the state.

Phase 2, treated here as the Inquiry's final report. Hansard, Vol. 753: Prime Minister Keir Starmer, "This morning, Sir Martin Moore-Bick published the final report of the Grenfell Tower inquiry." Also confirmed by the Inquiry's own Financial Report to 31 January 2025: "the Inquiry published its findings on 4th September 2024."

Phase 2. Command paper CP 1248, joint response from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Cabinet Office and Home Office, presented to Parliament 26 February 2025 (page last updated 2 June 2025). Government committed to reporting annually to Parliament on implementation.