A devastating hotel fire in 2017 could prompt a significant change in Scottish building regulations.
The blaze at the five star Cameron House Hotel near Loch Lomond claimed the lives of Simon Midgley and Richard Dyson.
A subsequent inquiry found that the West Dunbartonshire venue lacked a sprinkler system.
At the time, Sheriff Thomas McCartney said that the Scottish Government should introduce a requirement for sprinkler systems to be installed in historic buildings that are converted to hotels.
Now, the government has backed Simon and Richard’s Law, which would mandate the installation of sprinkler systems.
Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “The deaths of Simon Midgley and Richard Dyson in 2017 at Cameron House Hotel were a truly awful tragedy. The Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown and I met with Jane Midgley last week to discuss these changes.
“I want to pay tribute to the Dyson and Midgley families and the strength of Ms Midgley for her tireless campaigning over the last few years to improve the laws that govern fire safety in Scotland.”
McAllan added: “The fatal accident inquiry into their deaths made a number of recommendations, including for the Scottish Government to introduce a requirement for sprinklers to be installed when historic buildings are converted to hotels. I am pleased to have introduced this change in law to the Scottish Parliament.
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“Simon and Richard’s Law will ensure that any future conversions of historic buildings in Scotland into hotels will be required to have sprinklers installed.
“This is part of a package of work we are taking forward as a result of the Cameron House Hotel fire to improve public safety in Scotland and reduce the risk of a tragedy like this happening again.”
The legislation would also ban combustible external wall cladding systems in hotels, hostels, guest houses, and boarding houses.
If approved by Holyrood, the changes will come into force on 6 April 2026.
