Organisations and Specialists Supporting Disabled People Respond to Building Safety Minister’s Grenfell PEEPs Statement

Tue,17 September 2024
News Equality & Rights Housing
A coalition of organisations and specialists supporting Disabled people have published their response to the Building Safety Minister’s statement to Parliament on Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs). Close to half of Disabled people present in the block were killed by the Grenfell Fire. They welcomed her confirmation that regulations for PEEPs in residential blocks will now be introduced as soon as possible.

This follows their Statement welcoming the Prime Minister’s commitment to Parliament, responding to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry (GTI) Phase 2 report, that the new Government will finally address the Phase 1 recommendation “that the owner and manager of every high-rise residential building be required by law to prepare [PEEPs] for all residents whose ability to escape may be compromised, such as persons with reduced mobility or cognition”. 

In response to the Minister, they also welcomed her commitment that “The Government will engage with representative groups as these plans are developed”.  

They said “It answers the call in our statement, and we stand ready to start working with the Government immediately to develop further proposals on fire safety including fire risk assessments. However, such work must not come at the cost of delaying implementing the express right of Disabled residents to a PEEP”. 

The coalition state that “Shamefully, GTI’s recommendation has gone unimplemented for almost five years, undermining existing duties under equality, human rights, and fire safety legislation”.  

They conclude: “The Government now has the opportunity to take action without delay to respect the rights and safety of Disabled people in their homes by implementing the single regulatory amendment for which we call. We urge the Government to turn the page and do so by 19 October 2024, the 5th anniversary of the GTI making the recommendation”. 

You can read the original statement on DR UK's website.

Links to the latest statement are attached below.

Response to Building Safety Minister’s Grenfell PEEPs statement - Word


Response to Building Safety Minister’s Grenfell PEEPs statement - PDF