Laura Johnson’s appointment as director of development and property had been criticised by survivors of the tragedy which killed 72 people in 2017 reports David Floyd
The housing boss controversially appointed to a senior position in Barnet after being criticised for her role in the Grenfell Tower fire has left her job.
Laura Johnson, who was director of housing at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea at the time of the fire in 2017.
The public inquiry into the tragedy found that Johnson had intervened to demand that contracts for work on the tower were retendered to deliver “value for money”. The company that won the retendered contract replaced metal cladding with combustible plastic panels.
Johnson was also criticised for slowing down the installation of self-closing fire doors and failing to give sufficient weight to advice from London Fire Brigade.
She was initially appointed by The Barnet Group on an interim basis in June 2024. When the appointment came to light last year, it was slammed by Grenfell survivors group Grenfell United.
The group told The Guardian at the time: “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.”
Barnet Post understands that Johnson left her role on Friday and that members of The Barnet Group’s board were emailed a brief statement which provided no further details.
The Guardian reports that the information was also provided in a letter from The Barnet Group chair Eamon McGoldrick to Joe Powell, the Labour MP Kensington and Bayswater.
A Barnet Group spokesperson told the Post today: “We can confirm that Laura Johnson is no longer employed by The Barnet Group. In common with any employer, we owe obligations of confidentiality to those working for us, applying for, or being considered for any role at any level. For that reason, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”
Johnson was appointed to the £157,078 role on a permanent basis this summer after what The Barnet Group described as “A robust recruitment process”.
A spokesman said: “Our thoughts remain with the survivors and family and friends of all those affected by the tragic Grenfell Tower fire.”
At the time, Green councillor Charli Thompson described the appointment as “appalling” and told the Local Democracy Reporter Service: “Handing [Johnson] one of the most senior, highly paid roles delivering services for Barnet Council, with responsibility for thousands of homes, shows that no matter how serious the consequences of her previous decisions, there is no accountability.”
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