3 West Yorkshire Companies are fined over fire safety failings at student accommodation in Leeds.
Two property developers and a building manager have been fined a total of £670,000 after fire safety failings were discovered at student accommodation in Leeds and were prosecuted by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Leeds Crown Court were told that as many as 27 students had been put at risk at Trinity Hall on Woodhouse Street, which was described as having “potential for catastrophe.”
Trinity Developments Ltd, who own the building, along with Niche Homes Ltd, who were contracted to manage and let the properties, admitted to the following safety breaches:
- Failure to produce a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment
- Failure to take proper precautions to make sure the premises were safe from risk of fire
- Failure to provide an appropriate fire detection and alarm system
- Failure to provide an adequate number of fire escape routes and exits
APP Construction Ltd, who were responsible for the design and build of the property, admitted to one charge of failing to provide an adequate number of fire escape routes and exits.
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Chris Kemp said that “some of our senior officers have not seen such a blatant disregard for the law and safety of residents in 28 years.”
APP Construction Ltd were fined £450,000, Trinity Developments Ltd £160,000 and Niche Homes Ltd £60,000.