In 2023, Wirral Council acquired shopping centres in Birkenhead for £10.5 million as part of a regeneration initiative. However, a subsequent review revealed that the fire doors within these properties failed to meet current safety regulations. This oversight has led the council to be fined £3 million for urgent fire door upgrades.
What Went Wrong?
Before buying the Grange and Pyramid shopping centres, the council failed to carry out fire door safety inspections on the properties. In a report, they have stated: "Fire safety is assessed through a Fire Risk Assessment, and the most recent one did not set out any requirement for interim duties for the council relating to the risk posed by fire." They have since discovered that they will need to spend £1 million a year to rectify the issue and ensure that fire doors are in acceptable condition across the sites. The Fire Safety Regulations 2022 affirm that regular checks must be carried out on fire doors. These are to ensure that self-closing devices are working and the fire doors are in efficient working order and a state of good repair. Despite these regulations coming into effect several months before the shopping centres were purchased, Wirral council failed to comply.
Why This Matters
The situation highlights how costly and serious fire safety oversights can be. While the shopping centres were acquired as part of a wider regeneration plan, the fire safety risks were only identified after the purchase, leaving the council with an unexpected bill in the millions. It also illustrates the importance of thorough inspections (especially of fire doors) in both the acquisition process and ongoing property management. Fire doors are not just a passive fixture in a building; they’re a key part of fire compartmentation and are vital in slowing the spread of fire and smoke. When fire doors are non-compliant or in poor condition, the safety of the building’s occupants and the integrity of the structure during a fire can be severely compromised. The Wirral case shows that identifying these issues too late can lead not only to large-scale emergency spending but also to legal consequences and reputational damage.
Moving Forward
The council is now taking steps to resolve the issue by replacing all internal fire doors and bringing the buildings up to standard. This will help them avoid enforcement action and ensure the shopping centres are safe for staff and visitors. While this work is now being prioritised, it raises important questions about the role of fire safety due diligence during property transactions. Identifying non-compliance anomalies before purchase could help local authorities and private organisations avoid unexpected repair bills and urgent safety works later on.
Conclusion
Wirral Council’s situation is a clear example of the risks and costs associated with overlooking fire door inspections. Fire safety compliance should be an integral part of property management, not an afterthought. With increased attention on building safety across the UK, especially in public buildings, now is the time for organisations to review their inspection schedules and ensure no fire safety detail is missed.