A UK-based businessman has initiated a legal battle exceeding £1 million against Britain's largest water company, alleging that a devastating moorland wildfire destroyed prized grouse breeding grounds, killed wildlife, and wiped out years of conservation efforts on his Lancashire estate.
The Legal Claim
David Livesey, former chief executive of estate agency group Connells, is seeking £1,034,600 in damages from United Utilities. The fire occurred during a heatwave in May 2020, burning across hundreds of acres of moorland, as reported by Daily Mail.
Origin of the Fire
The High Court heard that the blaze started after two men allegedly ignited dry vegetation with a disposable barbecue on Darwen Moor on the evening of May 30. The fire spread rapidly in exceptionally dry conditions, eventually burning across approximately 630 acres of protected moorland over seven days.
Impact on Lords Hall Estate
Livesey owns the 300-acre Lords Hall Estate, which borders the affected land. He claims United Utilities failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the fire from spreading onto his property, despite having access to personnel, contractors, and specialist equipment that could have helped contain the blaze.
Allegations of Negligence
According to his legal team, the company focused its efforts on protecting its own land while failing to create firebreaks or deploy resources that could have prevented the flames from reaching his estate. Livesey purchased Lords Hall Estate in 2017 and had invested heavily in environmental restoration projects aimed at improving the moorland habitat. Court documents state that thousands of native plants had been introduced and hundreds of dams and pools created to rewet sections of the moor.
Destruction of Conservation Work
His lawyers argue that much of that work was destroyed by the fire. Livesey has also claimed that the wildfire devastated red grouse breeding areas, causing the loss of hundreds of nests and young birds that formed part of the estate's sporting and conservation value.
Preventive Measures
In submissions to the court, his legal team argued that the damage could have been avoided if better fire prevention measures had been in place and if additional firefighting efforts had been directed towards stopping the blaze from spreading northwards.
United Utilities' Defense
United Utilities denies liability and is contesting the claim in full. The company argues that it was not the legal occupier of the area where the fire started because the relevant sections of Darwen Moor were subject to agricultural tenancy agreements. It also rejects allegations that its response to the emergency was negligent.
Resource Deployment
Lawyers for the utility company told the court that decisions on where resources should be deployed were made by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, which was leading the response operation. The company further argues that some of the fire-prevention measures proposed by Livesey are unrealistic, including suggestions that visitors should have been required to formally agree not to light fires on the moor.
Outcome for the Individuals Involved
The court heard that the two men whose disposable barbecue sparked the blaze received conditional cautions. They were ordered to complete 150 hours of restoration work on the damaged moorland, including repairing walls, removing damaged infrastructure, and helping restore native vegetation.
