In July 2021, a 3,800-kilogram gable wall collapsed in Wigan, killing 77-year-old Clarice Berry. An investigation by Assistant Manchester West Coroner Bronia Hartley found that the tragedy was preventable, citing years of unaddressed structural warnings.
An eight-year history of cavity wall tie erosion
The death of Clarice Berry in Wigan reflects a broader, concerning trend regarding aging rental stock and maintenance neglect. The coroner's report highlights how structural issues, such as the cavity wall tie erosion seen at the Wigan property, can escalate into fatalities when ignored by property owners.
Warnings regarding the property's condition were raised by Berry's husband and various professionals over an eight-year period.. According to the coroner's report, these concerns regarding the structural integrity of the building were doocumented as early as 2013, yet the issues were never resolved.
The 3,800-kilogram warning ignored since 2013
A specific structural warning was docuented as early as August 2013, when a manager recorded a "big bulge" in the gable wall. At that time, the manager advised that the structure required urgent repointing or rebuilding to prevent a collapse.
Despite this early detection, the source reports that no definitive remedial work was ever carried out to secure the massive 3,800-kilogram structure. A subsequent inspection in March 2016 reaffirmed the need for repointing, but the danger continued to grow unchecked for years.
Why S & G Properties and KMPM bypassed structural experts
The property was owned by S & G Properties (No 2) Limited and underwent a management transition when Kaye Mackenzie was wound up in 2020, passing the responsibility to KMPM. During this period, the critical need for repairs identified in 2016 remained unaddressed by the new management team.
Assistant Manchester West Coroner Bronia Hartley noted that the landlord and management company failed to follow government guidance on hazard minimisation. Furthermore, the report states that neither a structural engineer nor a quantity surveyor was engaged to investigate the faulty brickwork, effectively ignoring the clear signs of an impending collapse.
Who is responsible for the lack of structural monitoring?
While the director of S & G Properties (No 2) Limited expressed sorrow and KMPM has since updated its inspection protocols, significant questions remain. It is still unclear how such a blatant disregard for safety warnings persisted for nearly a decade without triggering regulatory intervention from local authorities.
The investigation also leaves open whether the current oversight in Greater Manchester is sufficient to prevent similar structural collapses in other rental properties. Without systematic ways to recognize and fix hazarrds reported by occupants, the coroner warns that similar tragedies remain a real risk.
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