The Grenfell Tower disaster should be remembered with a permanent memorial reaching high into the sky but the building itself “cannot remain forever in its current form”, the commission established to determine the future of the site has concluded.
A memorial that lasts generations should consider incorporating the names of some or all of the 72 people who died in the June 2017 fire and “make sure the world can never forget”, states a report by the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission circulated to the bereaved, survivors and local people and seen by the Guardian.
But after more than four years of consultation the commission has cast doubt on hopes among some in the community that the burnt-out structure could remain on the west London skyline as an indictment of institutional failures that led to the blaze.
Its plan describes the future of the 1970s council tower block as “incredibly sensitive”. It said the decision would ultimately be “one for the government”, which now controls the site.
Some local people would prefer the tower be taken down, with some citing the mental health impact of its continuing presence on children growing up nearby.
Government engineers have also warned that the structure is damaged, particularly above 10 storeys. But the commission said it could carry out its own independent assessments “to understand what could be possible”. One option could be to incorporate parts of the structure into the memorial or monument – such as the 14 pillars which support the tower and the concrete roof crown, it said.
The commission is chaired by Lord Boateng, a former Labour government minister, and Thelma Stober, a solicitor who was injured in the 7 July 2005 London bombings. It includes representatives of the Grenfell community.
Its 50-page report, circulated among the community on Friday, states: “Whether or not it is viable to use the structure or parts of Grenfell Tower as part of the memorial, the commission recommends that height and visibility should be considered within the future designs for the memorial. We encourage a creative approach to how this could be achieved including the possibility of using light or other ways to create the appearance of height.”
The document, titled “Remembering Grenfell: recommendations and next steps to a memorial”, shows on its cover columns of light beaming upwards around the existing tower.
Stressing that the issue of what happens to the tower remains “hugely difficult”, the commission said that in the coming months “we will all need to work through how we can respect the sensitivities on all sides”.
Other elements of the site’s future have become more clear in the commission’s plan. It proposes creating a garden, as well as a monument and a structure to protect visitors from the weather.
The garden should be a sacred, peaceful place “for remembering and reflecting, both individually and communally, on who and what we have lost”, the commission said.
Planting should convey “growth and renewal as an aid to remembrance” and a monument or artwork should be included to “evoke community, love, hope, sadness and those who were taken from us”.
There should be a dedicated space for private expression of grief and mourning and the memorial could include a space for some of the unidentified remains of people who died in the tower that are the possession of the coroner.
The design must “reflect the rich mix of faiths and cultural backgrounds that makes up the Grenfell community” and should reflect the loss of children in the disaster. A separate museum and archive could be set up elsewhere in London.
By next spring the commission will publish a design brief for architects, landscape designers and artists, who will be shortlisted in the summer with a winner selected around the end of 2024.
The commission is keen that the memorial complex – which is unlikely to start construction until at least late 2026 – should be looked after long-term by the royal parks. It should be designed to avoid activities such as dog walking “that may not respect its purpose” and should not become a tourist attraction.
“Designs for the memorial should make sure the world can never forget what happened to our loved ones and our community,” the report concludes.
