Block owner fined for fire safety risk failures

Landmark prosecution of apartment managers is first in region

- JANE HAYNES

THE owners of the huge 19-storey Centenary Plaza apartments in Birmingham city centre have been hit with a £50,000 fine for failing to carry out critical fire safety measures to protect hundreds of residents.

The prosecution was brought by a new team of specialist Birmingham City Council officials, set up and funded with a government grant in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Their remit is to ensure that the right fire precautions are in place in high-rises across the city.

Centenary Plaza in Holliday Street is owned by Freehold Managers (Nominees) Ltd, located in Bishopsgate, London.

The owners were served an improvement notice over a year ago ordering it to undertake fire safety improvement works to the building but they failed to act, Birmingham magistrates were told.

The firm's representatives pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to comply with the Improvement Notice that was issued last September.