Post-Grenfell construction litigation and Building Safety Act 2022 claims

Solomonic data shows that at least 45 new building and fire safety claims have been issued since the Grenfell Inquiry’s final report in September 2024.

Another devastating high-rise fire, this time in Hong Kong, has renewed scrutiny there on the construction sector and understanding what helped this blaze spread, from scaffolding and construction mesh to other potentially flammable materials.

This prompted a review of how such issues are being reflected in litigation. More than eight years on from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, new and ongoing litigation concerning defective cladding and fire safety concerns continue to seep through the courts of England and Wales. Solomonic’s data analysis covers claims involving Grenfell, cladding (including defective cladding), fire safety issues or matters involving the Defective Premises Act, Building Safety Act or Fire Safety Act.

Building safety and regulatory compliance remain central in construction law, particularly following the publication of the Grenfell Inquiry’s final report in September 2024. In the four months following that report (September-December 2024), 17 new claims were issued – 14 of them in the final quarter alone – bringing the total number of claims issued in 2024 to 46, slightly up from 43 claims in 2023.

Activity has continued throughout 2025, with a further 28 claims filed between January and November. Since 2017, almost 260 claims relating to building safety, cladding or fire safety concerns have been issued.

Among the most high-profile proceedings is the £360 million claim brought by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), which seeks to recover costs linked to the tragedy. RBKC is pursuing multiple contractors and suppliers involved in the tower’s refurbishment, including Rydon, Arconic, Celotex, Harley Facades and Artelia.

The Building Safety Act 2022 was introduced largely in response to Grenfell. It aims to strengthen oversight of building quality and accountability within the construction sector and is now featuring more prominently in litigation. To date, more than 50 public claims in the High Courts have been identified that reference the Act.

With thousands of buildings still awaiting remediation, and government enforcement powers increasing, the sector faces sustained legal, financial and reputational challenges likely extending well into the next decade.

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