Rubble from the demolition of fire-ravaged buildings on the site of the former St Joseph’s Orphanage is being monitored closely due to asbestos concerns.
Developers Zimrock pulled down the three buildings, which fronted onto Mount Street and saw the closure of the road for 10 months after a major fire in November 2024.
The Health and Safety Executive confirmed a licenced asbestos removal contractor has been put in place.
Read more: Cellar works mean any Tithebarn pub demolition remains on hold
Preston City Council say they will ‘continue to monitor the situation closely’ at the former orphanage and Mount Street hospital site.
Planning permission was already in place for the demolition of the buildings – with the grade-II listed spire and chapel remaining in place – but happened quicker than planned due to the buildings becoming unsafe because of the fire.
Demolition work was halted in the Spring last year because of health and safety concerns raised by nearby residents and businesses about the demolition – with the HSE taking enforcement action alongside the city council.
Director of development and housing at the city council, Chris Hayward, told Blog Preston: “Preston City Council’s Empty Properties Task Force, which is made up of multiple internal departments and working with multiple partner agencies, has been actively coordinating engagement with the owners of the property over a prolonged period of time.
“It is through continued negotiation and Council interventions such as regular checks to improve security measures to stop the site being a magnet for antisocial behaviour and damage, and applying the necessary pressures on the owner to progress urgent works to manage the neglect of the property, that the site is now secure.
“The Council remains in regular contact with the owner and the focus now is to ensure that the contaminated waste and rubble is safely and securely removed from site without risk to public health.
“Once this has been accomplished in line with the direction from the Health and Safety Executive, then attention can be turned towards the preservation of the spire and chapel. The Council will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep regular lines of communication open with the owners of the property.”
A spokesperson for Zimrock said the removal of the rubble was a ‘long process’ and they had asbestos-approved contractors on site with precautions in place.
The HSE declined to comment further – only reiterating that the contractor on site was licenced by the HSE.
Blog Preston understands some precautions – such as short periods of road closures to Mount Street or closures of nearby businesses or properties may be needed when the rubble is removed due to the concerns about the level of asbestos within it.
Heritage buildings in the city have recently seen a major funding boost as the Labour-run local authority is pumping £1.2million into ensuring two listed buildings in Lancaster Road stay standing as well as a number of another initiatives aimed at bringing more heritage buildings back into use.
Within this is the focus on ensuring St Joseph’s is secure and a plaque and rose window have been reclaimed from the property before demolition and are being safely stored on site.
Proposals for an apartment scheme, which would see new buildings built around the chapel and tower of the former orphanage, were approved in 2021 but the time limit for these has now lapsed so new plans would be needed for any new future for the Mount Street site.
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