A recycling centre in Kew will get an £800,000 safety upgrade following a major fire.

A fire suppression system will be installed at Townmead Road Reuse and Recycling Centre as it remains at risk of another blaze.

It comes after around 100 tonnes of household waste caught alight inside a warehouse at the centre in 2021.

There was a fire at Townmead Road Reuse and Recycling Centre in 2021 (Credit: London Fire Brigade)

Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters responded to the incident.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it believed the cause of the fire was accidental but recorded it as undetermined after an investigation.

Richmond Council has now approved a budget of £800,000 to install a specialist fire suppression system at the centre, which prevents or controls the spread of fire by releasing a suppression agent like water, foam or chemicals.

The site is the main recycling centre in the Richmond borough.

A report by council officers said the 'urgent' fire prevention works will be funded by the authority's waste reserve, which had a balance of £5.8million at the end of the 2023/24 financial year.

The site is not currently insured by a third party as it does not have a fire suppression system.

The installation of the system will allow the council to meet the minimum insurance requirements outlined by Zurich.

The report said: "There is a significant ongoing risk of fire at the centre, which has culminated in a major fire in 2021.

"In order to manage this risk more effectively, and to comply with insurance requirements (as specified by Zurich), it is proposed to procure a new fire suppression system, which will include automatic electronic oscillating water monitors and water tank to protect the waste, and a roof-level sprinkler system to protect the building structure."

The council's Finance Committee unanimously approved the budget for the scheme on 14 November.