Feltham Construction dealt seven-figure compensation bill for blaze at luxury holiday home

A NEWBURY construction company has been landed with a seven-figure compensation bill after the High Court ruled it responsible for a fire which destroyed the ‘dream home’ of the Honourable Edward Iliffe.

Mr Justice Stuart-Smith ruled on Monday that Feltham Construction Ltd, based in London Road, was indirectly responsible for the defective installation of a logburner or flue that caused the house, on Green Island in Poole Harbour, to go up in flames.

Mr Iliffe - the great-grandson of newspaper magnate Sir Edward Iliffe - and who lives in Yattendon, bought the island in 2005 for £2.5million with the intention of building an idyllic holiday retreat for his family.

However, the six-bedroom house, which was in the final phase of construction, was destroyed when fire ripped through it in April 2012.

A forensic fire expert who examined the debris said the fire probably started “within the roof construction and specifically in that part of the roof close to the chimney”, the court heard.

“On the balance of probability, the cause of the fire was the failure to comply with building regulations when installing the flue,” he concluded.

Feltham Construction denied that the chimney was “assembled and installed in a non-standard and defective manner” and disputed the fact that the fire originated in the roof space.

On the cause of the fire, Mr Justice Stuart-Smith said that, as it had never been suggested the logburner or chimney were inadequately designed, the Iliffe’s case that installation flaws caused the fire was “overwhelming”.

He ruled: “Feltham was responsible in contract for the acts and omissions of its sub-contractors”.

Mr Justice Stuart-Smith entered summary judgement for Mr and Mrs Iliffe against Feltham.

The total value of damages award has not yet been assessed, however the couple originally submitted a £3.5million claim.

For the full story, pick up a copy of tomorrow's Newbury Weekly News.