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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Grenfell Tower: Cladding 'changed to cheaper version' | Grenfell Tower: Cladding 'changed to cheaper version' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Cladding fitted to Grenfell Tower during its refurbishment was changed to a cheaper version, documents obtained by the BBC suggest. | Cladding fitted to Grenfell Tower during its refurbishment was changed to a cheaper version, documents obtained by the BBC suggest. |
| Documents show the zinc cladding originally proposed was replaced with an aluminium type, which was less fire resistant, saving nearly £300,000. | Documents show the zinc cladding originally proposed was replaced with an aluminium type, which was less fire resistant, saving nearly £300,000. |
| The cladding is thought to have contributed to the spread of the fire that killed at least 80 people. | The cladding is thought to have contributed to the spread of the fire that killed at least 80 people. |
| There is no suggestion a deliberate decision was made to cut fire safety. | There is no suggestion a deliberate decision was made to cut fire safety. |
| It comes as Kensington and Chelsea council's first cabinet meeting since the disaster was adjourned after just 20 minutes on Thursday - after the council was forced by a court order to admit the press and public. | It comes as Kensington and Chelsea council's first cabinet meeting since the disaster was adjourned after just 20 minutes on Thursday - after the council was forced by a court order to admit the press and public. |
| The council halted the meeting, claiming it would "prejudice" the forthcoming public inquiry. | The council halted the meeting, claiming it would "prejudice" the forthcoming public inquiry. |
| London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the council's decision "beggars belief". | London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the council's decision "beggars belief". |
| ► A visual guide to what happened at Grenfell Tower | |
| The documents obtained by the BBC reveal contractors working for Kensington and Chelsea council were asked in 2014 to replace zinc cladding with a more economical aluminium version. | The documents obtained by the BBC reveal contractors working for Kensington and Chelsea council were asked in 2014 to replace zinc cladding with a more economical aluminium version. |
| One document - a list of requested savings sent to contractors in July 2014 - details potential savings of £693,161, reducing the cost of the contract from about £9.2m to £8.5m. | One document - a list of requested savings sent to contractors in July 2014 - details potential savings of £693,161, reducing the cost of the contract from about £9.2m to £8.5m. |
| It includes £293,368 that would be saved by fitting "aluminium cladding in lieu of zinc cladding". | It includes £293,368 that would be saved by fitting "aluminium cladding in lieu of zinc cladding". |
| The switch allowed for a change of colour, but the BBC has been told another key reason was to save money. | The switch allowed for a change of colour, but the BBC has been told another key reason was to save money. |
| Documents seen by the Times newspaper, reportedly show that, days earlier, the local tenant management organisation had sent an "urgent nudge email" to project management consultants involved in the refurbishment. | Documents seen by the Times newspaper, reportedly show that, days earlier, the local tenant management organisation had sent an "urgent nudge email" to project management consultants involved in the refurbishment. |
| It says the email urged them to provide "good costs" on cladding that could be shown to the councillor overseeing the work. | It says the email urged them to provide "good costs" on cladding that could be shown to the councillor overseeing the work. |
| Earlier planning documents suggest the original plan was for zinc cladding with a fire-retardant core. | Earlier planning documents suggest the original plan was for zinc cladding with a fire-retardant core. |
| Residents had also been told their new cladding would be made of zinc. Despite their differences, both types of cladding have the same official fire rating. | |
| Police investigating the disaster have said the tower's cladding has subsequently failed safety tests. | Police investigating the disaster have said the tower's cladding has subsequently failed safety tests. |
| The savings were part of an ongoing effort by the council and the local tenant management organisation to drive down the cost of the refurbishment. | The savings were part of an ongoing effort by the council and the local tenant management organisation to drive down the cost of the refurbishment. |
| A source close to one of the many companies involved in the project said the change was typical of constant pressure by councils to reduce the costs of building refurbishments. | A source close to one of the many companies involved in the project said the change was typical of constant pressure by councils to reduce the costs of building refurbishments. |
| Council minutes from 2013 show dissatisfaction with the initially-preferred contractor for not keeping the scheme within budget. | Council minutes from 2013 show dissatisfaction with the initially-preferred contractor for not keeping the scheme within budget. |
| Further bids were invited, and this led to the appointment of a different contractor in 2014 which was then asked to make savings including on the cladding. | Further bids were invited, and this led to the appointment of a different contractor in 2014 which was then asked to make savings including on the cladding. |
| Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council has promised to co-operate fully with all investigations into the fire. | Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council has promised to co-operate fully with all investigations into the fire. |
| On Thursday, Downing Street said 137 cladding samples from high rises in 41 local authority areas have now failed fire safety tests. | |
| Every panel tested had failed combustibility tests, it added. | |
| Elsewhere, Lord Porter, chairman of the Local Government Association, said fire safety tests on cladding from high-rise buildings were flawed. | |
| He criticised the tests for focusing on the core of the panel - rather than the panel as a whole. | |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that "isn't the right thing to test", adding: "The government needs to listen to a wider set of opinions and not just the experts they have got." | |
| Number 10 said the government was urging councils to carry out their own safety checks and to put mitigation measures in place where there are concerns. |