Contacts between the management organisation responsible for Grenfell Tower and future refurbishment contractor Rydon were “irregular and improper” at a time when the procurement process was live, a senior consultant on the project has admitted.

Simon Cash, director of cost management at Artelia Projects UK, told the Grenfell Tower Inquiry he was “shocked” and “surprised” by communications between Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation and Rydon before the firm was formally selected as preferred bidder for the refurbishment.