Seven years after grenfell no prosecutions have been brought. residents fear they’ll die before seeing justice

“I went through the largest national tragedy in this country since the Second World War. I watched 72 people perish in front of me,” says David O’Connell, who lives in a flat in Lancaster West estate, home to Grenfell Tower.

“I have to carry on living in the area. It’s traumatic for me and my partner. On top of that, I have to pay for something that’s more expensive and doesn’t necessarily work better than what we had before. I want to be trying to get my life back together.”

Seven years after the fire, residents speak of promises of change and justice unfulfilled. The Grenfell Inquiry’s final report won’t be delivered until September, while the Met admits charges won’t be brought for another year. It has left residents fearing many will die before seeing justice. Meanwhile, the refurbishment to transform the Lancaster West estate into a “model 21st century social housing estate” continues. Originally supposed to finish in 2020, it has dragged on, disrupting lives. Residents say they have been told the cost has ballooned to £80 million beyond the council’s capabilities.

The fire sparked promises of change from Westminster, as well as prompting a years-long dispute over work to fix dangerous cladding on buildings across the UK. “What is alarming is that nothing has changed for the residents of the estate and in fact things have got far, far worse,” said Kimia Zabihyan of the Grenfell Next of Kin campaign group.

“There is no advocacy for the residents who were abandoned and forgotten by this government, who blithely left the welfare of the citizens at the heart of this tragedy to the very same council that was under criminal investigation for the fire that killed their friends, neighbours and family.”

The original budget for the refurbishment was £120m. O’Connell says council representatives told residents at a meeting it will now be closer to £248m. Kensington and Chelsea Council said it did not recognise these figures, but acknowledged inflation and high borrowing costs had driven up budgets, and that the first block is due to be completed in early 2025. O’Connell doesn’t yet know what the final charges for the refurbishment will be, but expects at least £15,000 if he remains in his flat – or around £60,000 if he moves out. “It’s getting more and more expensive to