Developers fined for fire safety breaches

Two Manchester housing developers have been fined more than £14,000 after breaching fire safety rules on a student accommodation scheme.

Cost Design and UK Real Estate, which are part of the MCR Group, admitted failing to meet safety standards after council surveyors found serious breaches of fire safety rules at their 55-flat housing development.

Windows required for smoke ventilation were said to be completely obscured by scaffolding, while fire escape routes passed through a building site.

At a hearing at Manchester magistrates court on 24 August, Cost Design was fined £4,500 and ordered to pay £2,590 in court costs and a £15 victim surcharge, while UK Real Estate was fined £4,750 with full costs of £2,609 and a £15 victim surcharge.

Councillor Paul Andrews, executive member for neighbourhood services at Manchester council, said: “The lives of the students were put at substantial risk by those involved with this development. The court has rightly hit them in the pocket. This should serve as a warning to all developers that they need to work with the council to ensure properties are fully compliant with regulations before tenants move in.”