Managing fire risk in London’s landmark heritage buildings

The London Assembly Fire Committee is investigating the management of fire risk in London’s landmark heritage buildings.

This investigation aims to assess whether the fire risk to London’s landmark heritage buildings is being well managed. Specifically, it will aim to:

• Understand the key fire risks for London’s landmark heritage buildings, and how the risk of a catastrophic fire in these buildings could be reduced
• Identify barriers to improving fire safety in heritage buildings in London
• Evaluate the effectiveness of LFB’s fire precaution and prevention work in relation to heritage buildings in London
• Assess LFB’s preparedness to respond to fires in London’s heritage and historic buildings.

• Heritage and historic buildings were designed when modern fire engineering standards did not exist. As such, they generally do not meet the requirements of current regulations. Many have particular fire risks and limitations, such as old doors, hidden voids and poor compartmentalisation.
• Guidance on fire safety in heritage buildings from LFB and fire heritage experts advises that protecting people from fire while preserving a buildings historic character requires “a balanced approach, taking account of both fire safety and heritage conservation.”
• Charlie Harris, National Fire Adviser for Historic England, called fire the “greatest single risk to our cultural heritage”. Fire can cause devastating damage to a historic building itself, as well as any priceless artefacts housed inside.
• There have been several high profile fires in historic/heritage buildings in London in the recent past, including at Battersea Arts Centre in 2015, at Grade II* listed St Mark's church in St John’s Wood in 2023 and Somerset House in 2024. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, told the BBC that “if that fire hadn't been spotted and tackled as quickly as it was by the extraordinary emergency services, this could have been a complete disaster”.
• LFB has a heritage team, which offers advice on fire protection in historic buildings, and helps heritage sites develop salvage plans (which set out a plan for recovering precious items in the event of a fire). LFB also carries out training drills and exercises in partnership with historic sites in London to practice its emergency response.

1. How can the risk of fire in heritage buildings in London be reduced?
2. What measures are currently in place to avoid a fire in London’s landmark heritage buildings having catastrophic impact?
3. How is fire safety managed during renovation and restoration of heritage buildings in London?
4. How effective is LFB’s heritage team in providing advice and guidance to historic buildings on fire precautions?
5. How well prepared is LFB to tackle fires in heritage and historic buildings?

The London Assembly Fire Committee has launched a Call for Evidence, open to all who would like to respond. The Committee particularly welcomes responses from owners and managers of listed and heritage buildings in London and comparable cities, other heritage sector stakeholders, individuals and organisations with expertise in heritage fire protection, including fire and rescue services and organisations representing firefighters.

Please send evidence in a Word document format (not PDF) by email to: [email protected]

The deadline for submission is Friday 13 November 2026.