Ex-Grenfell housing chief leaves Barnet Homes role

Laura Johnson, a former director at Barnet Homes, has left her position with the council-owned company. Johnson previously led the housing department for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea when the Grenfell Tower fire occurred in June 2017, which resulted in 72 fatalities. She later provided testimony to the public inquiry into the disaster.

Her appointment to a senior role at Barnet Homes earlier this year had been met with significant opposition from bereaved families and survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire. These groups described her appointment as a "scandal" and questioned the decision-making process of The Barnet Group, an organisation responsible for managing over 14,000 council properties in the borough.

Criticism over appointment

Grenfell United, a group representing survivors and bereaved families, stated that Johnson's hiring by The Barnet Group was "a scandal." A spokesperson for the group expressed dismay that individuals criticised in the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry's findings were still being placed in positions of authority over public safety. The group indicated that their campaign was necessary for housing organisations to take the inquiry's conclusions seriously.

Barnet Council had initially defended Johnson's appointment, stating she was the "strongest candidate" after a competitive recruitment process and was legally qualified for the role. Barnet Homes confirmed Johnson "is no longer employed by The Barnet Group" but declined to comment further, citing confidentiality obligations to employees.

Grenfell investigation developments

Johnson's departure from Barnet Homes comes weeks after the Metropolitan Police announced it had sent 54 individuals and 20 companies to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) as part of its ongoing investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire. Kensington and Chelsea Council confirmed it was among the organisations referred for potential offences including corporate manslaughter and fire and health and safety violations. The CPS is currently reviewing the evidence and aims to make charging decisions before the 10th anniversary of the fire in 2027.

During her evidence at the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry, Johnson was asked if she would have done anything differently. She responded by expressing a wish for greater due diligence regarding the cladding used on the tower, stating, "The list is endless because you would never want anything of this type of thing to happen. It's just awful."