Grenfell Tower fire survivors are to be rehomed in a housing development where prices start at more than £1.5 million, the Government has announced.
Some 68 one-, two- and three-bedroom flats have been acquired at the Kensington Row development in upmarket High Street Kensington, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said on Wednesday, a week on from the disaster which left at least 79 dead.
The properties are “newly built social housing” at a site where private homes are on offer from £1,575,000 to £8.5 million and boast a 24-hour concierge and a private cinema, according to the website of developer St Edward.
.@sajidjavid announces that the first new homes have been secured for victims of the disaster at #GrenfellTower https://t.co/Er7kgHtLvR pic.twitter.com/J1Zk30q1zP
— DCLG (@CommunitiesUK) June 21, 2017
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said the “expectation is that these new properties will be offered as one of the options to permanently rehouse residents from Grenfell Tower”.
Extra public money has been found to fit out the flats more quickly, and the developer has taken on more staff and relaxed working hours rules, DCLG said, with the aim of having the homes ready by the end of July.
If you have been affected by the #Grenfell fire, please call 0800 458 9472
for help. More info: https://t.co/P0nnrSL2el pic.twitter.com/KuwY6nH0Vm— #Grenfell Response (@grenfellsupport) June 20, 2017
It comes after much anger from survivors and victims’ families at the official response to the deadly blaze.
An independent public advocate to help bereaved families after major disasters was announced in the Queen’s Speech earlier on Wednesday.
St Edward is a joint venture between Prudential and the Berkeley Group around 1.5 miles from Grenfell Tower.
Emergency #LondonFireReliefFund was set up for #GrenfellTower residents.
You can support them by donating now: 0300 023 0827 pic.twitter.com/hzajNlBT0W— #Grenfell Response (@grenfellsupport) June 21, 2017
Tony Pidgley, the Berkeley Group chairman, said: “We’ve got to start by finding each of them a home.
“Somewhere safe and supportive, close to their friends and the places they know, so they can start to rebuild their lives.
“We will work night and day to get these homes ready.”
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