A BUSINESS that is based in Birchwood is being prosecuted for its alleged role in a retirement village fire.

Your Housing Group Limited, which is based on Birchwood Park, is being prosecuted by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The care home fire in question took place in Crewe in 2019.

According to the fire service, the Beechmere retirement village fire was one of the biggest fires that the service has ever attended.

At the height of the blaze, 70 firefighters were in attendance, and over 150 residents were affected - either through the loss of their home or their possessions.

Thankfully, nobody was injured.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Since 2019 the service has worked tirelessly to investigate the cause of the fire and establish any potential breaches of fire safety legislation.

"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.

"As a result of the investigation, the service is bringing charges against six companies for failing to comply with the Fire Safety (Regulatory Reform) Order 2005."

The six companies are:

  • 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.
  • Avantage (Cheshire) Ltd - Contracted to procure the design, build, finance and operate the village. Avantage is a subsidiary of Your Housing Ltd.
  • 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.

All six companies are set to appear at Warrington Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, August 8 - four years to the day of the fire.