On 22 October 2025, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (“RBKC”) announced that it had withdrawn its decision to ban Artelia Projects UK Limited (“Artelia”) from being used on building and refurbishment projects.
Artelia was appointed as Employers Agent, and to fulfil other certain roles, on the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower. The Tower caught fire in June 2017, tragically causing 72 deaths. Artelia was a core participant in the public inquiry into the causes of the fire, chaired by Sir Martin Moore-Bick.
On 11 December 2024, RBKC adopted a policy that it would ban its contractors from using a number of companies, including Artelia, as their subcontractors on Council projects. Artelia challenged that decision by way of judicial review on the grounds that it was ultra vires the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023, irrational and taken pursuant to a procedurally unfair process. Artelia sought the quashing of RBKC’s decision insofar as it related to Artelia.
The claim was listed to be heard in October 2025 but was settled shortly before trial. RBKC agreed to withdraw its policy in relation to Artelia, and it has issued the following announcement:
“In response to the Grenfell Inquiry reports, we adopted a policy preventing contractors on our building and refurbishment projects from using certain companies as suppliers or subcontractors.
This policy was withdrawn in relation to Artelia Projects UK Limited on 2 October 2025. This means that the policy does not apply to Artelia Projects UK Limited and it is not a banned supplier.”
Ben Strong KC was instructed to act for the successful claimants, Artelia, by Reed Smith LLP.