Birmingham firm linked to Grenfell Tower disaster
Birmingham building services provider J S Wright has pledged to co-operate fully with any investigation into the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower after it emerged the firm had completed work on the tower block only last year.
The fire which engulfed the block early yesterday has so far claimed the lives of 12 people with the death toll expected to rise.
The Aston-based firm was initially sub-contracted in 2014 by construction firm Rydon to complete a £1.8m contract for the design and build of new heating, ventilation and boosted water systems for the 120 apartments in the 24-storey block.
It completed the contract last year in conjunction with Rydon, which had itself been appointed with the £10m contract for the refurbishment of the 1970s tower block by the Kensington & Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation.
In a statement, J S Wright said: “We are shocked by the catastrophic fire at Grenfell Tower in London and our thoughts are with the families, relatives and friends of all those affected by this tragic incident.
“J S Wright carried out a contract with Rydon Maintenance last year to provide Grenfell Tower with improved building services. Rydon Maintenance was in the process of refurbishing the building for Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation on behalf of the (Kensington and Chelsea) council.
“Like everyone else at this stage, we are unaware of the causes of this fire but we will co-operate fully with all enquiries and investigations into this incident.”
The company, which has an office in London, underwent an MBO earlier this year with the aim of becoming a £50m turnover business. It has been appointed to many residential projects on and around the capital.
Speaking in 2014, Marcus Aniol, managing director of J S Wright, said: “We are delighted to be reinforcing our association with Rydon by being placed at the heart of such major community regeneration projects in London.”
It has emerged that Rydon had also commissioned Halifax-based ventilation supplier Witt UK to work on the tower block.
The work was completed by Witt subsidiary PSB UK.
