Grenfell Tower hearing delayed by document deluge

Originally scheduled to take place on the 30th and 31st of January, the hearings have been pushed back after the investigation received 267,000 documents relating to the incident. This number is expected rise to 300,000 in the coming months. 

Evidential hearings, where witnesses will be called, may begin in May but certainly before the deadline of June 4th. These hearings will involve the 521 people who have been granted "core participant status" to date. Of these, 495 are survivors of the fire, those who have lost people or local residents. The remainder are made up of connected businesses as well as local and national bodies. 

The hearings will also consider reports produced by experts into five key areas: the cause and spread of the fire, the ignition of the cladding and insulation on the outside of the tower, the fire protection measures in the building and the statutory and regulatory requirements in force over the lifetime of Grenfell Tower.

These are due to be shared with core participants by the end of March.