
Around 250 homeless and beleaguered survivors of the devastating Grenfell Tower fire will be rehoused permanently inside a £2billion luxury Kensington development, it was revealed today.

The 68 one, two and three bedroom properties have been bought for just £10million and will provide refuge for families who lost everything in the blaze that killed 79 people a week ago.

Apartments in the Kensington Row development are currently on the market for between £1.5million and £8.5 million. The flats have been bought by the Corporation of London, which will run them as part of its social housing stock.

A blue Lamborghini Gallardo supercar passes the development in Kensington where 250 Grenfell blaze survivors - around half of the tower's residents - will start a new life at the end of next month

The development has over 500 apartments, of which the government has bought up 68 for those displaced by the fire

But developer St Edward has sold the 68 flats at 'cost' price even though they have a market value of around £160million.

The 250 Grenfell residents - around half of its population - are currently in hotels or in extreme cases believed to be sleeping rough in parks or in their cars.

But from the end of July they will living in the development on Kensington High Street lauded as 'one of London's most sought after new addresses'.

The apartments have large rooms and balconies offering panoramic views of London and residents also have access to a swimming pool, sauna, cinema and gym

The homes are being prepared for the survivors who are currently being housed in hotels around west London

Pictures of the development show rooms in the block's penthouses, although the survivors are unlikely to live in such flats

The deal to buy the flats is thought to have cost of the government tens of millions of pounds. Pictured: Show flat in brochure

The apartments have large rooms and balconies offering panoramic views of London and current residents also have access to a swimming pool, sauna, cinema and gym.

Grenfell neighbours without gas or water Residents of flats near Grenfell Tower are living without gas, water or electricity, locals have told MailOnline. Many families were evacuated from their homes after last week's fire, but have since returned to flats lacking basic amenities. A Barandon Walk resident initially refused to speak, but said the block had no hot water, gas or electricity. He claimed that no one from the council had been in touch, and that the residents were using a nearby Virgin Active gym and the Westway Sports Centre to shower. The Asian man in his early 30s said: 'We have no gas or water or electricity. 'Some of the residents have been moved to hotels - mainly ones at the Grenfell end - but a lot of us are going to sports centres to shower. 'We might not have hot water for four or five years - they have to take that block down and then we'll have to move again while they sort it out. 'This isn't the sort of thing that will go away in a week. 'There are a lot of food donations but a lot of us would just like a proper meal rather than eating biscuits for dinner. 'The council haven't spoken to us at all, we've had nothing.' A Spanish man, who did not wish to be named, said he had a friend who lived in Hurstway Walk, but that residents had not returned to their flats. He said: 'They are staying in hotels, there is no gas or water'. Advertisement

It is not known whether the Grenfell survivors will have the same access.

City of London Corporation immediately handed the flats to Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council, who have been so heavily criticised since Britain's worst fire for a generation.

The 68 flats for the Grenfell survivors was announced just before Theresa May apologised for the failures by local and national government in responding to the fire.

The property deal is a rare piece of good news for the families who lost friends and loved ones in last week's blaze.

It was paid for by the City of London Corporation - the wealthy local authority responsible for the capital's financial Square Mile which reportedly has £1.32billion in the bank.

Grenfell, a 1974 tower block refurbished last year, was engulfed by fire after a fridge exploded in its fourth floor.

Everyone on its top three storeys is believed to have perished including dozens who cowered together in their final moments a single room.

Others died trying to escape or even threw themselves and their children out of windows to escape the deadly heat and smoke.

Since the blaze anger has continued to mount over Kensington council's 'chaotic' handling of the Grenfell disaster amid reports of survivors sleeping rough and being denied cash because of confusing forms.

Nearly a week after the blaze which killed 79 and made hundreds homeless, desperate residents were said to still be struggling with accommodation and support.

More than £300,000 of the £5m emergency fund has been handed to families and over 100 people have been moved into hotels so far, the group said.

However, Lawyer Khatija Sacranie, who is offering free advice to those displaced, said some people trying to collect the aid money had been turned away empty handed because they had completed the wrong forms.

And one survivor said he was sent away with just £20 after officials ran out of cash.

The botched response effort was branded as 'appalling' with people still 'running around like headless chickens' by Kensington's new Labour MP Emma Dent Coad.

The Department of Commnunities says it is working to get those affected by the fire rehomed after widespread criticism of the shambolic response to the blaze

The new flats are around 1.5 miles from the tower in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea and were purchased by the City of London Corporation in a deal brokered by the Homes and Communities Agency

'People have to be looked after now. They have to be housed now. There's still total chaos out there.

'I'm absolutely horrified to hear people have been sleeping in cars and in parks because they don't know where to go and they aren't being looked after. Even now after nearly a week that's still the case,' she said.

Fellow Tottenham MP David Lammy tweeted about reports survivors are being 'threatened' with being classed 'intentionally homeless' if they refused being rehoused hundreds of miles away which he branded 'absolutely despicable'.

More than 500 people were living in the tower block when fire rapidly spread through it a week ago, killing at least 79. The building still contains many bodies because it is dangerous the search

Demonstrators hold a banner demanding justice for the victims of the recent deadly apartment block fire at Grenfell Tower, who many people believe have been failed badly

Residents have been left staying in hotels but some claim to have been forced to sleep rough in parks and cars

The Queen inspects generation donations of clothes, shoes and other items including food to help those whose lives have been changed forever by the Grenfell disaster

A mixture of one, two and three-bedroom flats have been purchased and will house up to 250 residents affected by the fire.

The development will be ready by the end of next month, with the government paying for extra work to be done to ensure the flats are completed in time.

PM sorry over 'failure of the state' to help Grenfell Tower victims in their hour of need Theresa May today offered a heartfelt apology to victims of the Grenfell Tower blaze - saying the help for displaced and bereaved families in the hours after the tragedy 'was not good enough'. The Prime Minister said she 'took responsibility' for the 'failure of the state, local and national' to provide assistance in the aftermath of the horrific blaze. And she said that as the country's leader she is stepping up to take responsibility and 'put things right'. Speaking in the Commons this afternoon, she said the whole country is 'heartbroken by the horrific loss of life' and told how she had been touched by hearing the stories of those caught up in the disaster. Mrs May said: ‘Let me be absolutely clear, the support on the ground for families in the initial hours was not good enough. ‘People were left without belongings, without roofs over their heads, without even basic information about what had happened, what they should do and where they could seek help. ‘That was a failure of the state, local and national, to help people when they needed it most. As Prime Minister, I apologise for that failure. ‘And as Prime Minister I’ve taken responsibility for doing what I can to help put things right.’ Advertisement

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid, whose department arranged the move with the Corporation of London, said: 'Our priority is to get everyone who has lost their home permanently rehoused locally as soon as possible, so that they can begin to rebuild their lives.'

The move came as an independent public advocate to help bereaved families after major disasters was announced in the Queen's Speech.

The post was announced by the monarch along with confirmation that a public inquiry will also be held into the June 14 fire, which prompted a mass outpouring of grief and anger.

Announcing the new roles as she opened the new parliamentary session, the Queen said: 'My government will initiate a full public inquiry into the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, to ascertain the causes and ensure the appropriate lessons are learned.

'To support victims, my government will take forward measures to introduce an independent public advocate, who will act for bereaved families after a public disaster and support them at public inquests.'

The Grenfell Fire Response Team said so far some £675,200 has been distributed to affected families via £500 in cash, £5,000 bank transfers and other 'discretionary payments' made by Kensington and Chelsea Council.

John Barradell, head of the Grenfell Fire Response Team, paid tribute to the volunteers and community members who stepped in after the blaze, and vowed that more will be done.

He said: 'We are doing all we can to co-ordinate and bring in additional support to help local people who have suffered so much, but know we have so much more to do and won't let up on our efforts.

'As well as looking to deliver much more and effective practical and emotional help, we are listening very closely to the community so they can direct help to where it is needed most.'

Eleanor Kelly, chief executive of Southwark Council and spokeswoman for the Grenfell Response Team, said: 'Rehousing those residents affected by the Grenfell Tower fire as quickly as possible is our main priority, and I am pleased that a significant amount of housing has now been identified.'

Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy, who is leading the team of more than 250 criminal investigators working on the disaster, said: 'We will continue to do everything we can to find answers to those who are missing loved ones.

'I know that for those who are suffering, those answers cannot come quickly enough.'

'His death has united us': Grieving parents fly from Syria to bury their refugee son, 23, who died in the Grenfell Tower disaster as thousands pay respects at the first funeral since fire

The funeral of a Syrian refugee killed in the Grenfell Tower blaze has been attended by thousands of Londoners and his family, who were flown in from the Middle East.

Mohammad Alhajali, 23, was the first of five of the at least 79 victims of the fire who have been named following the disaster last week.

His family was flown from Syria by the UK Home Office and arrived at the East London Mosque shortly before the funeral at 1.30pm today, where they met privately with mayor Sadiq Khan.

The funeral for Mohammad Alhajali, a victim of the deadly Grenfell Tower blaze, has taken place in a service attended by his family and the Mayor of London

Chief Imam Shaykh Abdul Qayum led the prayer in the main hall of the East London Mosque, with those at the service standing in long rows

Mohammed Alhajali (left and right) was trapped inside his flat for two hours after being separated from his brother, Omar

Family members were in the front row of the mosque's main prayer room, joined at their side by Mr Khan, when the service took place.

Worshippers from across the capital had gathered outside to pay respects to Mr Alhajali, described by this family as 'a very amazing and kind person'.

A midday prayer was held at 1.30pm, attended hundreds of people who regularly pray at the mosque and many others from around the city, before funeral prayers for Mr Alhajali were held.

There was a heightened police patrol outside the mosque, including plain-clothed officers in suits, to provide more support after the terror attack at Finsbury Park Mosque.

East London Mosque officials said midday prayer normally attracts around 2,000 people, but many more were there for the service, given by Imam Shaykh Abdul Quayyum.

Mr Alhajali will be buried later in a private ceremony at the Muslim cemetery in Hainault, east London.

The funeral was attended by London mayor Sadiq Khan, who said he was pleased Mr Alhajali's family were able to be at the service

Mr Alhajali's family were flown from Syria by the Home Office following a public campaign

The family were among thousands of mourners at the East London Mosque this afternoon

In a statement read by family friend Muzna Alnaib, Mr Alhajali's family said: 'He was a loving and caring person always showing support and solidarity with his friends and family stuck back in Syria.

'He never forgot to tell us how much he loved us, his very last words to us were how much he missed us. Ever since he moved away from us we tried to be united with him and his brothers and now, instead, we have been united by his body.

'May he rest in peace and may no other family experience the pain we have endured in the last few days. We would like to thank everyone who has been so kind to us over the past few days.

'In particular we would like to thank the charities and volunteers who have helped us since the fire, especially the Eden Care charity.

'We want to thank all of you who signed the petition to the government to allow us to be here and we would like to thank the home office for their assistance in getting us to London in time for the funeral.'

Alhajali (left), 23, fled his war-torn home of Daraa three years ago with his brother Omar (right)

The family were flown in after thousands of people signed a petition to bring them to the UK

Speaking after the service, Mr Khan said all of London and all of the country are grieving with the family of Mr Alhajali.

He said the dignity with which Mr Alhajali's two brothers have conducted themselves 'makes us all in awe of them' and that he is 'really pleased' his father, mother, two sisters and other family members were able to attend the funeral.

Mr Khan also called on the Government, on 'compassionate grounds', to allow those who lived inside the tower and did not have the right to remain to be given the right to stay in the UK.

He said it was 'crucial' to get the truth about what happened, that the public inquiry into the disaster commences as soon as possible, that those affected are given legal representation paid for by the Government and that the incident report is published this summer.