Company Fined £165,000 for ‘Blatant Disregard’ for Fire Safety in Preston Redevelopment 

• Content
• News
• Company Fined £165,000 for ‘Blatant Disregard’ for Fire Safety in Preston Redevelopment 

01 August 2025

A construction firm has been fined for repeatedly ignoring fire safety precautions during the conversion of a Preston warehouse into residential apartments.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) identified several fire safety issues during the construction phase of the project, led by Altrincham-based construction company Glovers Court Ltd. This led to the evacuation of existing residents and the prohibition of the building.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found a catalogue of fire safety breaches. There was no fire detection system on site, no means of raising the alarm in case of a fire and inadequate escape plans. HSE stopped all further work on the property until Glovers Court Ltd put adequate fire precautions in place and designed and implemented a fire management plan.

During later visits, HSE discovered construction work had continued, despite no action from Glovers Court Ltd to comply with those notices.

Following a trial at Preston Magistrates’ Court on 26 June 2025, Glovers Court Ltd were found guilty of breaching: 

• 33(1)(c) HSWA by virtue of breaching Reg 11(1) CDM 2015

Reg 11 (1) CDM The PD must plan, manage and monitor the pre-construction phase and co-ordinate health and safety matters to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the project is carried out without risks to health and safety.

• 33(1)(c) HSWA by virtue of breaching Reg 13(1) CDM 2015

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Regulation 13(1).   The failures relating to general and process fire precautions can be identified in the failure to plan, manage and monitor the construction phase to ensure it is carried out without risks and by virtue of Reg 16 (1) &(2) and Part 4 because construction work is being carried out.

• 33(1)(g) HSWA x 2

It is an offence for a person to contravene any requirement or prohibition imposed by an improvement notice or a prohibition notice (including any such notice as modified on appeal).

Glovers Court Ltd was fined £165,000 and ordered to pay £10,512 in costs. The company has since gone into liquidation.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We welcome the court’s recognition of the seriousness of these breaches and hope this serves as a clear message to all about their legal and moral responsibilities.”

Picture: a photograph of the exterior of the warehouse redevelopment in Preston, showing exterior panels, brickwork and some windows. Image Credit: HSE

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 01 August 2025

Share

Related Articles