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The owner of the former St Joseph’s Orphanage is not due to face any enforcement notices despite a third major fire in the space of two years.
Dozens of firefighters were sent to the abandoned building in Mount Street during Monday 4 November evening.
Preston City Council said it served a ‘community protection notice’ on the building – owned by Zimrock Ltd – earlier this year.
Read more: Pictures and video show extent of latest St Joseph’s Orphanage fire
This notice the city council said ‘resulted in routine checks resulting in damage being repaired more promptly.’
Asked if the city council was considering further enforcement action against the owners of the building or use of a compulsory purchase order a spokesperson said they did not plan to at this time.
Preston Police is currently treating the fire as a suspected arson and both they and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is continuing to investigate. Firefighters had remained on the scene throughout Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning.
The city council confirmed a community protection notice – which is ‘designed to stop a person aged 16 or over, business or organisation committing antisocial behaviour (ASB) which spoils the community’s quality of life’ – was issued on the St Joseph’s site earlier this year.
A spokesperson told Blog Preston: “Multiple agencies are working together and continue to liaise with the owner, with routine checks resulting in damage being repaired more promptly following the service of a Community Protection Notice earlier this year.
“There has also been close co-operation with the policing teams, with additional patrols being conducted in the area.
“If this week’s fire is determined to be deliberate, it’s disappointing that anti-social behaviour at this location continues, with the perpetrators having little regard for even their own welfare in entering a partially derelict site. There is further work being done on education about the dangers of entering empty buildings, as we want to inform people, so they are not tempted to explore empty buildings due to social media and other influencers.
“The aim is to educate and advise, but ultimately there are enforcement and deterrent measures which are taken with persistent offenders causing damage and other anti-social behaviour on this site when they are identified.”
No one was hurt in the fire on Monday evening – and the fire follows major fires at the Mount Street premises in 2022 and 2023.
The site has become a constant source of trespass and anti-social behaviour with nearby businesses and residents voicing their concerns.
Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner visited the site during the summer as part of a ‘multi-agency approach’ to trying to educate and stop young people exploring the site and the city council also confirmed in the summer ‘daily debris cleans’ were taking place due to regular rubble being in Mount Street and surrounding roads.
Part of the former orphanage was demolished in recent years after proposals for a new apartment complex, which keeps the grade-II listed tower, chapel and other elements. However, progress on this scheme has stalled leading to the site continuing to remain derelict as it has done for a number of decades.
Blog Preston is seeking clarification about the future of the site – amid calls and rumours it is due to be demolished.
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