Key Points
- Barnet Council appointed Laura Johnson, former housing director at Kensington and Chelsea Council during the June 2017 Grenfell Tower fire where 72 people died, to a permanent position.
- Johnson moved to the permanent role of group director of development and property at The Barnet Group after serving as a senior interim housing officer for Barnet Homes from June 2024.
- The public inquiry criticised Johnson for ordering a retender of tower works due to high costs, which resulted in a contractor installing the combustible plastic cladding that fuelled the fire.
- The inquiry stated that Johnson delayed installing self-closing mechanisms on fire doors for financial and practical reasons and disregarded safety advice from the London Fire Brigade.
- Guardian Jobs listed the role publicly with an annual salary of up to £157,078 based on experience, drawing more than 100 applicants.
- A spokesperson for Grenfell United told The Guardian that survivors and bereaved families condemned the appointment as a deep and bitter injustice and a slap in the face.
- A Barnet Council spokesperson stated that Johnson won the position on merit as the strongest candidate through a competitive recruitment process.
- Barnet Council noted that Johnson contributed intrinsic value to the council receiving a top-tier C1 grading from the Regulator of Social Housing during a 2025 inspection.
London (Extra London News) August 25, 2026 — A senior housing administrator whose professional conduct was sharply criticised during the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire has secured a permanent, high-ranking executive position within local government leadership, sparking renewed anger from survivor advocacy groups.
As reported by David Floyd of the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Laura Johnson has been appointed as the permanent group director of development and property at The Barnet Group, a council-owned enterprise that oversees Barnet Homes. Barnet Homes operates as an arm’s length management organisation (ALMO), managing more than 14,000 council-owned homes throughout the north London borough. This permanent placement follows Johnson’s controversial arrival at the organisation in June 2024 as a senior interim housing officer.
Who Is Laura Johnson and What Was Her Role in the Grenfell Tower Fire?
Laura Johnson served as the director of housing at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council from 2009 onward. She held this exact leadership office in June 2017 when a devastating fire tore through the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block in North Kensington, resulting in the tragic deaths of 72 people.
According to findings detailed by the official Grenfell Tower Inquiry, Johnson actively intervened to demand that renovation works scheduled for the tower be fully retendered because of their elevated costs. Consequently, the firm that secured the renewed contract on a “value for money” basis opted to substitute safer metal exterior cladding with the combustible plastic-filled panels that ultimately accelerated the spread of the deadly blaze. Furthermore, the public inquiry uncovered that Johnson deliberately delayed fitting self-closing mechanisms onto the building’s fire doors, citing financial and operational constraints. The inquiry panel concluded that this choice failed to afford proper weight or consideration to critical safety recommendations issued by the London Fire Brigade (LFB).
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How Was the Permanent Position at The Barnet Group Secured?
As uncovered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) through professional listings, the executive vacancy was advertised via Guardian Jobs on LinkedIn. The recruitment advertisement indicated that over 100 individuals submitted applications for the role, which featured a final application deadline of 7th June and comprehensive final interviews conducted on 1st July.
The recruitment literature published online declared: “This is an exciting time to join The Barnet Group,” and noted that the corporate entity had successfully spearheaded growth and innovation across municipal housing, development, and social care infrastructure. The post carried a lucrative remuneration package, promising a yearly salary reaching up to £157,078 based on the candidate’s background and experience. However, despite the conclusion of the hiring process, an official public announcement celebrating Johnson’s appointment had not been featured on The Barnet Group’s website at the time of publication or when the LDRS initially approached local authority representatives for feedback.
What Are the Reactions of Grenfell Survivors and Bereaved Families?
The ongoing employment of public officials who faced severe criticism during the public inquiry has consistently drawn profound backlash from those affected by the 2017 disaster. Families and survivors have repeatedly pointed out a systemic lack of tangible professional consequences for individuals whose administrative choices preceded the loss of dozens of lives.
In statements previously given to The Guardian, a representative for the survivor advocacy network Grenfell United expressed collective outrage over these career trajectories. Speaking on behalf of the group, the spokesperson stated:
“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.”
How Has Barnet Council Responded to Public and Media Scrutiny?
In defense of the decision, a spokesperson for Barnet Council addressed inquiries from the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) by emphasizing that the hiring procedure adhered strictly to corporate merit standards. The spokesperson stated:
“The role of group director of development and property at The Barnet Group was publicly advertised and attracted a competitive field of candidates. A robust recruitment process was undertaken to assess applicants against the requirements of the role, and Laura Johnson was appointed on merit as the strongest candidate, and she has subsequently been appointed to the role on a permanent basis.”
Adding further context regarding historical personnel matters, the council representative noted:
“Barnet Homes and Barnet Council will not discuss matters relating to members of staff which took place during previous employment.”
The local authority also took the opportunity to address broader institutional priorities and recent regulatory validations. The spokesperson remarked:
“Our thoughts remain with the survivors and family and friends of all those affected by the tragic Grenfell Tower fire. The safety and wellbeing of our residents is our top priority.”
Highlighting operational achievements under current leadership, the council added:
“Following an inspection in 2025, Barnet Council received a C1 grading from the Regulator of Social Housing, the highest possible rating for landlords of social housing. Laura Johnson played an intrinsic role in securing this rating, placing Barnet Homes among the top tier of social housing providers in the capital.”
The local authority noted that the independent regulator confirmed both the council and Barnet Homes possess a thorough comprehension of building conditions and consistently execute statutory health and safety obligations. The review also praised the joint cooperative framework utilized to tackle local issues and advance residential housing standards moving forward.
