Barnet appoints former Grenfell housing chief despite survivor backlash
Laura Johnson named group director of development and property by The Barnet Group; council says appointment lawful, while Grenfell United urges a pause
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Barnet Council announced on 29 July 2026 that Laura Johnson, who served as housing director for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea during the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, has been hired by The Barnet Group as its group director of development and property. The appointment affects the management of social housing across the borough, including estates in Finchley, Golders Green and Mill Hill.
Council says recruitment complied with legal requirements
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A Barnet Council spokesperson told the BBC that the vacancy was advertised openly, that candidates were assessed against a set of criteria and that Johnson emerged as the most qualified applicant. The council added that it had considered the Grenfell Inquiry findings during the selection process and that the appointment was within its statutory powers.
Survivors and campaign groups demand a pause
Grenfell United, which represents families of the fire’s victims, issued a statement calling on Barnet Council and The Barnet Group to suspend the appointment while an independent review is carried out. The group argues that Johnson’s involvement in decisions about cladding and fire‑door safety at the time of the disaster creates a conflict of interest for a senior housing role in another borough.
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“People that were named by the inquiry as being responsible for the failings of Grenfell are able to carry on with their lives and we are put in the position of absolute limbo with no justice and no accountability. It’s a torture to live with that. It’s cruel.”
Ed Daffarn, Grenfell United survivor
Government officials made aware
The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed that Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has been briefed on the appointment after Grenfell United raised the issue. A department spokesperson said that while the government monitors local authority employment decisions, each council remains responsible for its own hiring processes.
What happens next
Barnet Council has said it will monitor any further developments and will engage with Grenfell United if a formal review is requested. Residents who wish to comment can write to the council’s housing department or attend the next meeting of the Housing and Development Committee, scheduled for 15 August 2026. The council reiterated that the safety and wellbeing of its tenants remain its top priority.
Questions this report answers
+What position has Laura Johnson been appointed to?
Laura Johnson has been appointed group director of development and property by The Barnet Group, the body that manages Barnet Council’s social housing. The role places her in charge of overseeing development projects and property strategy across the borough.
+Why have Grenfell survivors criticised the appointment?
Survivors say Johnson’s former role in decisions about cladding and fire‑door safety at Grenfell Tower creates a conflict of interest. They argue that appointing her to a senior housing post in another borough undermines accountability and asks the council to pause the hire.
+What has Barnet Council said about the legality of the appointment?
Barnet Council told the BBC that the recruitment process was publicly advertised, that Johnson was the strongest candidate and that the appointment complies with all legal requirements. The council said it had taken the Grenfell Inquiry findings into account.
+What is the government’s response to the controversy?
The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed that Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has been informed of the appointment. A spokesperson said councils are responsible for their own employment decisions, but the department will monitor the situation.
Barnet Press News Desk
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