Grenfell Tower will be illuminated at night during its demolition as a “tangible reminder” of the tragedy that occurred.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced that beams of light will shine upwards from the corners of the tower, changing to green on the anniversaries of the fire.

Testing of the lighting is scheduled for Saturday, with the full illumination commencing on Sunday.

One group representing the victims criticized the initiative as a mere “public relations stunt,” while another emphasized to the BBC the importance of ensuring Grenfell remains in the public consciousness as the criminal proceedings unfold.

On June 14, 2017, seventy-two individuals lost their lives in the tragic event at the west London tower.

According to the government, the lights will be activated no earlier than 5:00 PM and will be switched off by 11:00 PM each night. They will also shine green on June 14 and December 14 each year.

In their latest communication to the community, MHCLG stated: “It is imperative that there is a visible symbol of the tower while it is being systematically deconstructed.”

Grenfell Next of Kin, a group advocating for the families of the deceased, responded to the plans by saying: “After eight and a half years, the MHCLG Grenfell team and Memorial Commission rely on superficial gestures and empty symbolism instead of addressing our needs and acknowledging our voices.

“Every day, we confront the tragedy of losing our loved ones—parents, partners, children, and siblings. We do not need a light display funded by public resources, serving crony interests.”

They continued: “Decisions made by the department are often secretive and misuse public funds. It’s all ‘bread and circuses’ while our pleas and concerns go unheard.”

In contrast, a spokesperson for Grenfell United, representing survivors and families who lost loved ones, stated, “With those accountable eager for Grenfell to fade from public memory before the legal proceedings conclude, we must do all we can to prevent that from happening.”

A residents’ association on the Grenfell estate noted that local residents were not consulted regarding the light installation, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

MHCLG has been contacted for further comment.

Kensington and Chelsea Council clarified that it is not involved in the management of the building.

Earlier this year, the government revealed that the dismantling of Grenfell Tower would take approximately two years and would be conducted “with utmost care and sensitivity,” aiming to minimize disruption.

The tower has stood for over eight years, adorned with a banner featuring a green heart and the message “forever in our hearts.”

As the demolition proceeds, the current banner will be lowered, and new banners will be placed further down before the original is removed, according to government information.

Efforts are also underway to establish a permanent memorial.