Altrincham in Focus: Fire Safety, Risk and Compliance
Altrincham is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, south of Manchester, with direct Metrolink connections to the city centre and easy access to Manchester Airport and the M56 motorway. The town has undergone significant regeneration over the past decade, most visibly through the transformation of Altrincham Market into one of the most celebrated independent food and retail markets in the North West, drawing visitors from across the region and anchoring a revival of the town centre's independent retail and hospitality offer. Alongside this commercial renaissance, Altrincham retains a varied premises base: office campuses on the town's outskirts serve financial services and professional businesses, light industrial and commercial operations occupy estates near the retail park on Craven Road, and the residential areas surrounding the town centre — many of them among the most affluent in Greater Manchester — include a significant care and education sector. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is the enforcing authority for the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 across Trafford, with Altrincham fire station providing the primary response to the town.
For those who own, manage or occupy non-domestic premises in Altrincham, the FSO places a direct legal duty to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and to keep it under review. A fire at a commercial site on Craven Road in March 2025, involving multiple fire engines and close to the Altrincham Retail Park, illustrates the fire risk associated with outdoor commercial and scrapyard operations in proximity to retail and residential areas.
Commercial Site Fire, Craven Road, Altrincham — March 2025
At around noon on Saturday 22 March 2025, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were called to reports of a fire at a commercial site on Craven Road in Altrincham, close to the Altrincham Retail Park. Four fire engines from Stretford, Altrincham, Sale and Wythenshawe fire stations attended, along with the aerial appliance from Manchester Central fire station. On arrival, crews found a number of vehicles on fire at the site. GMFRS issued a statement advising residents nearby to keep their windows and doors closed as a large plume of black smoke rose above the area. Drone footage captured the extent of the smoke cloud over the retail park and surrounding streets. No injuries were reported and crews worked to prevent the fire spreading to adjacent properties.
Footage of the fire on Craven Road, Altrincham, 22 March 2025. Video: Manchester News / TikTok.
The fire safety lesson for outdoor commercial and vehicle storage operations Fires involving vehicles — whether in scrapyards, parking areas or vehicle storage sites — can generate intense heat and toxic smoke very rapidly. Modern vehicles contain a wide range of materials including plastics, rubber, upholstery, fuels and — increasingly — lithium-ion battery systems, all of which contribute to a complex and hazardous smoke profile. For any responsible person operating or occupying a site where vehicles or scrap materials are stored, the fire risk assessment must address the layout of the site and the separation between stored materials and any occupied buildings or adjacent properties, the adequacy of access arrangements for fire appliances around all parts of the site, whether flammable liquids or other DSEAR-relevant substances are stored on site, and the public health implications of a significant smoke event in a location close to retail, residential or other occupied premises. Proximity to the public — as is the case for any commercial site near a retail park or town centre — adds urgency to ensuring that fire risk arrangements are adequate and current.
Fire Safety Duties for Responsible Persons in Altrincham
Altrincham Market and heritage retail premises. Altrincham Market and the independent retail and restaurant offer on Market Street, Stamford New Road and the surrounding streets occupy a mix of modern and Victorian commercial premises. The market itself — with its covered hall, independent traders and high visitor numbers — is a shared-occupancy premises where the market operator carries obligations for the common areas and each trader carries obligations for their own trading space. For the older retail buildings on the surrounding streets, the fire risk assessment must address the original construction materials and their fire behaviour, the condition of compartmentation, and the adequacy of means of escape from upper floors. Fire door inspection is essential wherever fire doors protect escape routes.
Offices and commercial premises. The office campuses around Altrincham and Sale, including premises serving financial services, insurance and professional sectors, must each hold written fire risk assessments specific to their current use and occupancy. In multi-occupier office buildings, the managing agent holds responsibility for common areas and Article 22 of the FSO requires responsible persons in shared buildings to cooperate and share relevant fire safety information.
Warehouses and commercial estates. Industrial and commercial premises on the estates around the retail park must hold written fire risk assessments addressing fire load, detection coverage and access for appliances. Where operations involve flammable substances, DSEAR obligations apply.
Hotels and hospitality. Hotels and hospitality premises must hold written fire risk assessments covering all areas of the building, with evacuation plans realistic for overnight occupancy. Staff training must be current and documented.
Schools. The primary and secondary schools serving Altrincham and the Trafford area require written fire risk assessments, staff training and fire drills at minimum once per term.
Churches and places of worship. Altrincham's churches and faith buildings are regulated premises under the FSO. The fire risk assessment must reflect the full range of activities that now take place in church premises alongside regular worship.
Care homes and residential care. The significant care and retirement living sector in and around Altrincham requires written fire risk assessments with Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for all residents who may not be able to self-evacuate. Evacuation chair training is an expected element of care staff competence, and assessments must reflect current resident dependency levels.
HMOs and the private rented sector. Houses in multiple occupation carry FSO obligations for their common parts. Fire door condition must be maintained through regular inspection and maintenance.
Managing agents. Agents responsible for the common parts of commercial or residential buildings carry FSO obligations for those areas. Our dedicated service for managing agents sets out how we work with property managers across the region.
Fire Safety Support for Altrincham and Greater Manchester
Fletcher Risk Management provides fire risk assessments in Altrincham and across Greater Manchester, alongside fire door inspections, fire safety training, evacuation plans, fire safety policies and evacuation chair training. Whatever type of premises you are responsible for, we can advise on your obligations and help you meet them. Please get in touch.
Fire safety support across the North West and North Wales
Fletcher Risk Management provides fire risk assessments, fire door inspections and fire safety training for responsible persons across Chester, Cheshire, the Wirral, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, North Wales and the West Midlands. To discuss your requirements, please get in touch.
This article is intended for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Responsible persons should seek professional advice tailored to their specific premises and circumstances. Fletcher Risk Management Ltd provides fire risk assessments, fire door inspections and fire safety training across the North West and North Wales.