The Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission has published its schedule for selecting the team that will design the memorial at the Grenfell Tower site.

The announcement marks the beginning of the process to design and deliver a bold, fitting and lasting memorial to the 72 victims of the tragedy.

On 10 July, the procurement for a community-focused design team – likely to include architects, landscape architects and artists – will begin in accordance with public procurement rules.

The commission will publish clear criteria and details about how interested teams can apply. Interested teams will be asked to demonstrate their relevant experience, including their experience of working collaboratively with communities.

A shortlist of up to five teams will be notified in the autumn. These teams will be asked by the commission to prepare the design approach they would take if appointed.

With input from the Grenfell community, the final team is expected to be selected and announced in spring 2025. It’s anticipated that the memorial design should be sufficiently developed, in partnership with the community, to allow for a planning application in 2027. Interested design teams are invited to register their interest now by emailing [email protected]

The commission’s ten community representatives said: “This is a significant step closer to turning the Grenfell community’s memorial vision into a physical reality.

“The beautiful and lasting memorial to our 72 loved ones deserves nothing less.”

Thelma Stober and Lord Paul Boateng, co-chairs of the commission, said: “Our primary commitment as the commission is to establish a dignified and peaceful space for the Grenfell community to commemorate.

“And our fundamental pledge, from the outset, has been to prioritise the voices and wishes of the entire Grenfell community in the decision-making process, both now and in the future.

“The bereaved, survivors, residents, and the broader Grenfell community will play integral roles at every stage. This will ensure that the final design embodies a truly meaningful tribute to the 72 lives lost and provides a lasting and appropriate place for loved ones to pay their respects, mourn, and feel connected to their memory.”

In November 2023, the commission published its second report, detailing the Grenfell community’s wishes for a permanent memorial. The report called on the government to honour its earlier commitments and fulfil its moral duty to deliver all 16 of the commission’s recommendations.

Among the recommendations are:

• The Grenfell community must always be central to decisions about the memorial
• The memorial must be a peaceful, sacred space for individual and communal remembrance and reflection
• The design must reflect the diverse faiths and cultural backgrounds of the Grenfell community
• The memorial should include a garden, a monument or other structure, and options for commemorating the names of those lost, featuring art, water, and light. Additionally, recommendations include creating a permanent public exhibition and a separate physical and digital archive beyond the sacred space of the Grenfell Tower site.