BERKELEY Homes are to make 68 homes available in Kensington for the survivors of the Grenfell Tower blaze.
The group, who have a number of Irish directors on their board, will turn over the 68 apartments to the Government to rehouse the survivors, Prime Minister Theresa May said in her address to Parliament yesterday, June 22.
"Everyone whose home was destroyed will be guaranteed a new home on the same terms as the one they lost," she said. "Sixty-eight of those will be in a brand-new low-rise block that has just been built by Berkeley Homes.
"The developer has generously offered to turn over the entire block at cost price. Contractors are on-site now, working 24/7 to speed up fit-out so that the first families can move in this summer," Mrs May added.
The homes are part of a development by St Edward, a joint venture between Prudential and the Berkeley Group, and will be made ready for the families to move in during July and August.
Residents will be able to live here on a permanent basis, 1.5 miles from their former neighbourhood in north Kensington.
"We've got to start by finding each of them a home," said Tony Pidgley CBE, Chairman of the Berkeley Group.
"Somewhere safe and supportive, close to their friends and the places they know, so they can start to rebuild their lives. We will work night and day to get these homes ready."
Alex Jeffrey, Chief Executive, M&G Real Estate, which manages the property interests of Prudential, added: "We are shocked and deeply saddened by the Grenfell Tower fire and are obviously relieved that we can help in some small way by providing homes of high quality within the Borough to some of the families who have been affected."
Over 150 homes were lost in the blaze, which also claimed the lives of 79 people.
As well as the 68 apartments, 164 suitable properties have been identified and are being checked and made ready for people to move into, the Prime Minister said.
Until the permanent accommodation is ready later this Summer, residents of the Grenfell Tower Block have been offered temporary accommodation in hotels in the area.
