Posted by 
A crackdown on developers who do not secure empty buildings and those who trespass in them has been launched by Preston City Council.
Following two major fires at the former St Joseph’s Orphanage and the now demolished 131 Church Street in November the rhetoric from the Town Hall towards building owners in the city is heating up.
The Labour administration’s cabinet member for environment and community safety, councillor Freddie Bailey, said: “Taxpayers should not be footing the bill for securing these sites. Building owners must step up, and the Task Force will ensure they understand their responsibilities.
“This includes taking enforcement action and prosecuting those who flout their legal obligations. Preston deserves better.”
A spokesperson for the city council told Blog Preston they had been involved in up to 60 enforcements against building owners.
Notices were not always issued if work was carried out to a require timescale. The enforcements could also be multiple to one property.
The city council say they are working in conjunction with Preston Police and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service on the newly introduced task force which is focused on empty and derelict buildings.
The task force follows a similar effort led by the Lancashire police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw in the summer to try and halt trespass on empty buildings focused around the Winckley Square area which the city council were a part of.
It followed growing complaints from residents and businesses in Winckley Square about vandalism and anti-social behaviour at empty buildings in and around the Georgian square.
Cabinet member for community wealth building, councillor Valerie Wise, said: “We will not tolerate the behaviour of developers and building owners who do not take responsibility for the safety of their property seriously, putting people and buildings at risk.
“Some of these properties are part of Preston’s heritage and owners have a duty to protect buildings of historic importance, so the Council will take formal action if this is not happening.
“We want to encourage responsible development and to work alongside building owners to help improve the city but also look to bring back much of Preston’s heritage through investment.”
It’s the latest message to private developers in the city – with stern words being exchanged between Town Hall chiefs and Yousuf Bhailok, who owns large numbers of empty properties in the city, during July’s general election campaign over the state of the city centre.
A spokesperson for The Preston Partnership which represents businesses and organisations across the city said: “We welcome the establishment of the task force aimed at ensuring empty buildings are kept safe, secure and well-maintained. We are committed to collaborating with stakeholders to help address this important issue.
“High street vacancy is a national challenge, with over 170,000 empty units across the UK. Preston Partnership is working closely with Preston City Council and other key partners to explore innovative solutions for revitalising vacant properties in Preston and bringing them back into sustainable use.”
Warnings to those trespassing
Preston Police have backed the task force and say they will be increasing patrols around empty buildings.
A police spokesperson said: “Access to these buildings is restricted for a reason. They are unsafe to enter and can pose a significant risk to those who trespass. Unfortunately, some have become an attraction for people who are not aware of the dangers that they pose.
“We would like to remind building owners that it is their responsibility to prevent access to these dangerous sites. Our officers will continue to conduct regular patrols of the area”
Anyone who sees suspicious activity near empty buildings is asked to report it to police on 101 or if there’s a fire or emergency to call 999.
Mount Street closure remains in place
The former St Joseph’s Orphanage saw a major fire take place in early November with buildings close to the grade-II listed chapel and tower going up in flames.
Mount Street was closed due to the fire and is approaching two months of closure as developers, Zimrock, await the go-ahead to demolish some of the buildings.
The part of the site to be demolished was due to be taken down as part of plans for a new apartment complex on the site.
A spokesperson for Zimrock said they were still awaiting the green light from the Health and Safety Executive on their plans for demolition.
A city council spokesperson said: “The contractor for demolition is waiting on an approval to go ahead as it involves the removal of asbestos. We have pressed the urgency of this matter and hope the approval can be issued before Christmas so that demolition can commence early in the new year.”
The Fishergate bus lane remains suspended while the Mount Street closure is in place.
Blog Preston has contacted the Health and Safety Executive for comment.
