TV architect George Clarke and the campaign group Grenfell United are urging homeowners and businesses to boycott three companies criticised in the Grenfell Tower inquiry for “systematic dishonesty”. Clarke, best known for his show George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, said he has decided not to use products from Arconic, Kingspan and Celotex in any of his projects, and has asked colleagues and friends in the industry to do the same.
The three firms were heavily criticised in the inquiry’s findings published last year. Arconic made the plastic-filled cladding panels that were the main cause of the fire’s spread, while Kingspan and Celotex supplied combustible foam insulation. The inquiry found they engaged in deliberate strategies to manipulate testing processes, misrepresent data and mislead the market. All three have continued to deny wrongdoing.
Clarke, who lives near the west London tower block where 72 people died in the 2017 blaze, said: “We can all sit around and wait for criminal proceedings to happen… but the inquiry proved those companies were dishonest, so people have to make their own moral judgment.” Ed Daffarn from Grenfell United, a former resident who predicted the disaster on his blog, added: “Do not use these companies.”
The Metropolitan Police have said charges related to the fire are unlikely before late 2026. The government had accepted recommendations to debar the firms from public contracts, but paused the process to avoid affecting criminal investigations. Meanwhile, Kingspan Insulation posted a pre-tax profit of £14.7m in its latest accounts, and all three companies have continued to make millions in yearly profits since the fire.
Clarke said the firms have become “default suppliers” in construction, but stressed there are plenty of alternatives. He expressed surprise that many in the industry remain unaware of the inquiry’s findings, calling it “morally unacceptable” to continue using their products. A spokesperson for Arconic said the company “fully supports efforts to better regulate the UK construction industry and improve safety”, while Kingspan has previously acknowledged the tragedy but maintained it acted responsibly.
