SIX CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES are being prosecuted for the Beechmere retirement village fire in Crewe in 2019, including Wirral-based MAC (Roofing and Contracting) Ltd.

The roofing company is alleged to be responsible for several fire safety failures as it carried out hot works on the roof of a flat in the 150-resident complex on Rolls Avenue, Crewe.

MAC Roofing was contracted by Morgan Sindall Property Services Ltd to undertake roofing works at Beechmere between 6 and 8 August 2019. The fire destroyed most of the complex on 8 August 2019.

Hot Works Fire Failure

MAC Roofing was working on the top floor of the central part of the building where it is thought that the fire started.

On the day of the fire, MAC Roofing was carrying out ‘hot works’ on a patio area. The roofers’ work is thought to have been potentially witnessed by a resident living in Flat 131 next to the area, who has been interviewed.

Experts have examined the design of the Beechmere building to try to establish exactly when and where the fire started.

They looked into the initial spread of the fire up into the roof space above Flat 131, the spread of the fire beyond that into the compartment above the staircase and, from there, its spread into the roof above Flat 132.

The fire is thought to have then moved towards the front of the building and across into the space above the corridor next to the two flats.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was shocked by the speed of the fire’s spread. Beechmere had a ‘stay put’ policy for its 123 residents in the event of the fire.

However, the decision of the incident commander, who was first to arrive at the scene of the fire to ignore the policy and evacuate residents immediately “undoubtedly saved lives”, according to the fire service.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Head of Protection, said: “It’s clear that the fire wasn’t behaving in the way that we would expect, and I must praise his swift and decisive actions in ordering the immediate evacuation of residents. His decision undoubtedly saved lives.”

The fire was one of the biggest ever attended by the Service with 70 firefighters deployed at its height to bring it under control.

Since 2019, Cheshire Fire and Rescue says its officers have been working “tirelessly” to investigate the fire.

“This has been a long and complex process owing to the scale of the fire and the number of parties involved in designing, building, maintaining and managing the building,” a statement reads.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue said it had found safety breaches at other Avantage retirement complexes after the fire, at Hazelmere in Winsford, and other charges had been brought in relation to this development.

Remedial work has since been carried out at Hazelmere and all the other defective developments which are run on behalf of Cheshire East Council.

In 2017, the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) launched its ‘Safe to Torch’ campaign to help roofing contractors identify and manage the risks of hot works. As a NFRC member, MAC Roofing had signed up to the Safe to Torch campaign.

Six Construction Companies Prosecuted

Along with MAC Roofing, the Fire Service has brought charges against the construction companies involved in designing and building Beechmere as well as firms responsible for repairs, facilities management and fire risk assessments.

The six companies are due to appear at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on 8 August 2023 – 4 years to the day of the fire. The six companies are:

Avantage (Cheshire) Ltd. Contracted to procure the design, build and finance of Beechmere and operate the village in accordance with Cheshire East Council’s specification. Avantage is a subsidiary of Your Housing Ltd.
Your Housing Ltd. Employed staff at Beechmere and as such was the ‘responsible person’ for fire safety measures as defined by Article 3(a) of the Fire Safety (Regulatory Reform) Order 2005.
Morgan Sindall Property Services Ltd. The facilities management subcontractor to Avantage, with responsibility for responsive repairs and cyclical maintenance.
WSP UK Ltd. Contracted to produce a detailed fire strategy in 2007 and in 2008 produce an operational fire safety manual and carry out a fire risk assessment of Beechmere.
Total Fire Group Ltd. Contracted to carry out fire risk assessments in August 2017 and August 2018 at both Beechmere and Hazelmere retirement villages.
MAC Roofing and Contractors Ltd. Contracted by Morgan Sindall Property Services Ltd. to undertake roofing works at Beechmere between 6 and 8 August 2019.

Alleged breaches of the Fire Safety Order were added by Cheshire Fire Service in relation to a second retirement village operated by Avantage, Hazelmere, in Winsford.

None of the prosecuted companies have yet entered a plea.

Separate Case

In a separate case before the Technology and Construction court, Avantage (Cheshire) Ltd as the PFI contractor for the development of the Beechmere property is claiming £40m in damages.

Fellow claimants are Cheshire East Borough Council as the freeholders and Your Housing Ltd as the leaseholder of Beechmere.

The claimants are seeking damages for alleged deficiencies in the design and construction of the property, including the absence of compartmentation, cavity barriers and sprinklers, resulting in a failure to inhibit the spread of fire.

Defending the claim are Gleeson, parent company of GB Building Solutions Ltd that has now entered into administration. Gleeson was the contractor engaged by Avantage but because it was dissolved it has never participated in the proceeding.

The other defendants who are active in the case include PRP Architects Holdings Ltd, who were engaged by Gleeson to provide architectural and design services.

Prestoplan Ltd was also engaged by Gleeson as a sub-contractor to design, install and commission timber frames and compartment walls.

The fifth defendant, WSP UK Ltd, was engaged by Gleeson as a consultant for fire engineering design services; and Mascot Management Ltd was employed by Avantage to act as their agent and clerk of works.

The case is ongoing.

 

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