Kensington & Chelsea Council Reverses Ban on Grenfell Firm After Legal Challenge

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) has removed construction consultancy Artelia Projects UK Ltd from its list of banned companies following a legal challenge. Artelia was a consultant during the 2015-2016 refurbishment of Grenfell Tower. This decision marks the second instance of the council rescinding a ban on a firm linked to the tower’s refurbishment after legal proceedings.

Key Takeaways

RBKC has withdrawn its policy banning Artelia Projects UK Ltd from future council projects.
The decision follows a judicial review initiated by Artelia, which was settled out of court.
This is the second firm, after Siderise Insulation Ltd, to have a ban overturned by RBKC.

Artelia’s Legal Challenge

Artelia Projects UK Ltd, which served as QS, employer’s agent, and CDM co-ordinator during the early stages of the Grenfell Tower refurbishment, launched a judicial review against RBKC’s decision to ban it. The firm argued that the ban was ultra vires the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023, irrational, and procedurally unfair. The claim was settled before trial, with RBKC agreeing to pay Artelia’s costs.

In a statement, RBKC confirmed the withdrawal of its policy in relation to Artelia, stating, “This policy has been withdrawn in relation to Artelia Projects UK Ltd. This means that the policy does not apply to Artelia Projects UK Ltd and it is not a banned supplier.”

Previous Ban Reversal

This development follows a similar decision in July 2025, when RBKC removed Siderise Insulation Ltd from its banned list. Siderise, a manufacturer of cavity barriers used in the Grenfell Tower refurbishment, also initiated legal proceedings, arguing that the ban was “unwarranted” and “without foundation or justification.” The council stated that the updated policy reflected that Siderise “in no way contributed to the fire or its spread.”

Ongoing Bans

Despite these reversals, RBKC’s ban on several other companies remains in place. These include Rydon, the main contractor for the refurbishment, along with Arconic, Celotex, Kingspan, CEP Architectural Facades, Harley Facades, and Exova UK. These firms were banned due to their involvement in the Grenfell Tower tragedy, which resulted in 72 deaths.

Survivor Reactions

Survivors and campaign groups have expressed dismay at the overturning of these bans. Concerns have been raised that such legal challenges and subsequent reversals could lead to further tragedies. Emma O’Connor, a survivor, stated that if companies continue to successfully challenge bans, “another Grenfell will happen,” adding, “They simply don’t care about their actions.”