Laura Johnson, who was criticised by the public inquiry into the fire that killed 72 people in 2017, is now responsible for fire safety across Barnet’s 13,000 council homes reports David Floyd

Barnet Homes is based at Barnet Council’s offices in Colindale

The director of housing at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea at the time of the Grenfell tragedy is now responsible for fire safety at Barnet Homes.

Laura Johnson was the housing boss at the central London council in June 2017 when 72 people died in the fire at the tower block in North Kensington. She had served in the role since 2009.

The public inquiry into the fire heard that Johnson intervened to demand that works carried out on the tower were retendered due to their high cost.

The company which subsequently won the retendered contract on a “value for money” basis replaced metal cladding with the combustible plastic panels that fuelled the fire.

Johnson had also slowed down the installation of self-closing fire doors recommended by London Fire Brigade (LFB). The inquiry report said that “her decision failed to give sufficient weight to the advice of the LFB and the nature of the risk that self-closing devices were intended to mitigate”.

Johnson was appointed by Barnet Homes as Interim Group Director of Property and Development in June 2024.

On her LinkedIn profile, she explains that her current role at Barnet Homes includes: “delivering H&S compliance for the big six including fire and building safety.”

“A slap in the face”

Speaking to The Guardian in the run up to the eighth anniversary of the fire on Saturday, a spokesperson for survivors and bereaved families group Grenfell United slammed the fact that officials criticised in the inquiry continue to work in the housing sector.

They said: “The fact that some of the people involved are still working in housing is a slap in the face to every survivor and bereaved family.

“If there are no consequences for decisions that cost lives, what does that say about this country’s values? Justice delayed is justice denied – and we will not stop until those responsible are held to account.”

Barnet Post put a series of questions about the appointment to both Barnet Homes, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barnet Council, responsible for the borough’s 13,000 council homes, and the council’s cabinet member for housing Ross Houston.

In response to questions on whether it was aware of Johnson’s previous role at Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea before she was appointed last year and (if so) why it felt that someone with her track record was an appropriate appointment to a major housing role, particularly one that includes fire safety, a Barnet Homes spokesperson said: “Barnet Homes and Barnet Council will not discuss events relating to members of staff which took place during previous employment.

“Barnet Homes made the appointment to fill a role on an interim basis and the permanent role will be recruited to as soon as possible. This interim role was a Barnet Homes officer appointment.”

Safety and wellbeing “top priority”

In response to the question of what it would say to tenants who are concerned about fire safety as a result of discovering that Johnson is currently in post, the spokesperson said: “The safety and wellbeing of our residents is our top priority.

“Straight after the Grenfell fire in 2017, Barnet Council started a remediation programme to remove and replace ACM cladding on three high-rise blocks and develop a comprehensive programme of safety improvements across its stock. Barnet is one of the few London local authorities to have retrofitted integrated alarm and sprinkler systems in its most at-risk properties.

“Barnet Council has invested over £75m in its building safety programme to ensure its homes in Barnet are safe and Barnet Homes has a dedicated fire and building safety team which continues to deliver a comprehensive fire safety programme.”

In response to the statement by Grenfell United, the spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with the survivors and family and friends of all those affected by the tragic Grenfell Tower fire.”

“Thoughts with all those affected”

Barnet Post asked Cllr Houston whether he was aware of the appointment at the time and whether he had raised any queries about it. He said: “We are aware of the interim appointment by Barnet Homes however we do not comment on individual staff matters.”

In response to questions about whether it was appropriate for someone with Johnson’s track record to be appointed to a major housing role and what he would say to residents concerned about fire safety, Cllr Houston said: “The safety of Barnet’s residents is our highest priority, and we have a comprehensive and continuous fire and building safety programme across our housing stock which the council has invested in since 2017 and continues to invest in.

“We are also taking action to ensure residents in private housing blocks are safe and protected by issuing hundreds of enforcement notices, and we are working with homeowners on a programme of works to address cladding issues in nearly 600 low-rise private homes in the Borough.

“We will continue to comply with the most up-to-date and best practice standards in building and fire safety regulation.”

In response to the statement by Grenfell United, Cllr Houston said: “ “Our thoughts are with all those affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy.”

“Unacountable decision makers”

Responding to reports of Johnson’s role at Barnet Homes, Barnet Green Party drew attention to wider issues around local accountability.

Charli Thompson, speaking for the party, told Barnet Post: “The catastrophic failures at Grenfell were in part due to unaccountable decision makers sitting in ivory towers a long way from the residents affected by the tragic fires.

“Directors and developers have to be accountable for the real risks faced by people living in unsafe blocks as well as damp and mouldy homes.”

“With massive tower blocks being built in Barnet at an incredibly fast pace, our residents need to know new homes will be safe and truly affordable. We are already seeing missed sewage connections and plans threatening greenbelt and floodplains.

“We need Barnet Council and Barnet Homes to hold private developers to the highest standards, to give people the homes they want, in the right places and at the right prices. Private development is not the answer to Barnet’s needs.”
Also reflecting on the reports, Conservative group leader Peter Zinkin told Barnet Post: “We would expect that all employees and particularly those with significant management responsibilities would be fully aware of the lessons needed to be learnt from the Grenfell tragedy.”

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.