Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) is currently in the news due to two significant developments. Firstly, the council has appointed Laura Johnson, the former director of housing at the time of the Grenfell Tower fire, to a senior £150,000-a-year role as permanent director of development and property. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from Grenfell survivors and bereaved relatives, who view it as an "outrageous decision" given Johnson's oversight of cost-cutting measures prior to the tragedy. Secondly, data from Rightmove indicates a substantial drop of nearly £100,000 in the average asking price for newly listed homes within the borough over the past month. This decline is attributed to increased competition among sellers, prompting some to reduce their price expectations. These events highlight ongoing sensitivities surrounding housing management and the economic fluctuations within one of the UK's wealthiest areas.