Fire & Flood Recovery at ITV Television Centre, White City
Related SafeGroup Service:
Fire & Flood Recovery at ITV Television Centre, White City
Project Overview
Sector – Mixed-Use (Commercial & Residential)
Service – Fire Recovery, Soot Decontamination & Large-Scale Structural Drying
Incident – Significant fire resulting in 12 hours of firefighting water ingress and carbon contamination
Timeline – September – November 2025
Objective – Stabilise a high-profile occupied site, neutralise smoke odours, and dry structural fabric without the need for intrusive strip-out works.
The Challenge: Smoke and Water Damage in an Occupied Site
On 6 September 2025, SafeGroup was instructed to deliver an urgent fire recovery and response at ITV’s Television Centre in London. This uniquely challenging setting required a sensitive approach; business-as-usual operations were ongoing, and residents remained in their homes throughout the recovery.
The fire resulted in widespread soot and carbon contamination, smoke odour, and significant secondary water damage caused by over 12 hours of fire brigade activity. The recovery spanned:
- High-value residential apartments across seven floors.
- Commercial office accommodation and communal stairwells.
- Publicly accessible areas requiring immediate risk control.
Elevated moisture levels throughout the building fabric posed a long-term risk to the structure and high-end finishes. The primary requirement was a time-sensitive recovery that balanced technical rigour with empathy for the residents and businesses on site.
Our Response: Phased Decontamination & Large-Scale Drying
SafeGroup mobilised specialist fire and flood recovery teams immediately, attending site to begin a phased programme overseen by a dedicated Project Manager and our Senior Leadership Team.
Data-Led Moisture Mapping & Structural Drying
Due to the sheer volume of water pumped into the buildings, significant secondary damage was encountered. SafeGroup designed a bespoke restoration programme, deploying in excess of 300 items of specialist drying equipment.
Moisture Mapping: We established detailed monitoring to track progress and confirm drying outcomes scientifically.
Asset Protection: Our early intervention was specifically designed to prevent the degradation of the building’s structural integrity and protect expensive interior finishes.
Soot Removal & Air Quality Management
While drying was underway, we implemented targeted cleaning and odour mitigation:
Decontamination: Specialist removal of carbon residues from communal corridors and residential spaces.
Air Purification: Strategically positioned air scrubbers were maintained throughout the site to restore healthy air conditions and neutralise smoke odours for the occupants.
Collaborative Project Management
With residents and businesses remaining on-site, clear communication was vital. SafeGroup provided daily engagement and technical guidance, creating a calm, controlled environment alongside other trades and site management.
The Outcome: Avoiding Costly Strip-Outs
SafeGroup’s structured response enabled a swift recovery without the need for total site evacuation.
- Value Engineered: Our bespoke drying strategy and accurate moisture mapping prevented the need for strip-out works in three residential apartments, significantly reducing disruption and avoiding unnecessary reinstatement costs.
- Full Sign-Off: All affected areas were confirmed dry and decontaminated by 26 November.
- Safe Handover: The site was formally handed back in a safe, healthy, and controlled condition, allowing ITV and the residents to continue normal occupancy with confidence.
“Safe Group are a trusted supply chain partner to our business, supporting specialist and emergency cleaning services across our portfolio. Safe Group provide rapid effective solutions. Evidencing commitment, expertise, and flexibility, with attention to detail, they have been instrumental in delivering a successful outcome for us and that of our clients. ”
“I've worked with SafeGroup for a number of years now, for a variety of services from flood responses, sewage spills, commercial or high-level cleans, and upholstery cleaning. I've always found their service excellent, always providing a swift response when we need them, and a great quality of work too. ”
“SafeGroup delivers specialist and reactive cleaning services across the M&S estate, covering both food and department stores. We rely on their service nationally across a combined 1000+ store list. SafeGroup offers a genuine partnership approach, through bespoke management systems and dedicated personnel. It is constantly seeking to improve and overdeliver. From floor and carpet cleaning to emergency flood or sewage response cleans, SafeGroup delivers an end-to-end service that ensures we are operational and compliant. Its quality of work is backed up by its communication and reporting. This is testament to our successful and continually growing partnership.”
“We have been working in partnership with Safegroup for approximately 3 years now. We have developed the account over the past few years and have found Safegroup very easy to deal with. They have supported us on numerous disasters and always delivered works to a high standard. Communication has always been great throughout. It’s piece of mind knowing we have their support whenever required.”
