A major fire in the centre of Preston can’t be investigated further according to the fire service.

The former St Joseph’s Orphanage and Mount Street Hospital site, some of which is grade-II listed, has been declared as ‘dangerous’ and so it cannot be entered by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service personnel.

The fire – which began on Monday 4 November at 9.46pm – ripped through the building and took more than four hours for firefighters to bring under control.

Read more: Former St Joseph’s Orphanage site had ‘community protection notice’ served on it

It was the third major fire at the building in the space of just over two years with fire crews already being called in 2022 and 2023 to extensive fires across the site.

An arson investigation was launched by Preston Police, in conjunction with the fire service, during Tuesday 5 November.

But the investigation has now stalled due to the unsafe nature of the building.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said in response to an update on the investigation into the cause of the fire: “The fire was a confirmed derelict building that is scheduled for demolition and due to the dangerous nature of the structure and the safety of our firefighters, it has not been possible to enter the building to investigate the cause of the fire.”

Blog Preston requested comment from Preston Police about their investigation but received no response by time of publication.

Mount Street is now set to be closed off ‘for weeks rather than days’ according to Preston City Council as demolition work continues. This has led to the suspension of the Fishergate bus lane by Lancashire County Council as the closure was the last turn before the bus lane cameras kick in.

The Health and Safety Executive is understood to be in communication with the building’s owners about the timescale for demolition work on parts of the site.

A HSE spokesperson said: “Following the fire, we are liaising with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Preston City Council to ensure the safe demolition of the site.”

Are there plans for St Joseph’s future?

Parts of the St Joseph’s site were already scheduled for demolition as part of proposals to build new flats and townhouses – with the historic chapel and tower buildings being retained and converted.

But the previous developers have sold the site in recent years and it is now owned by a company called Zimrock Ltd, based in Shoreditch, London.

A spokesperson for Zimrock Ltd told Blog Preston: “We remain committed to the approved plans for the building with a new apartment complex, townhouses and apartments within the retained grade-II listed elements of the building.

“We have 24-hour security on site and we’re working with the city council and the Health and Safety Executive on our proposal to demolish the unsafe buildings following the site. There is a lot of paperwork involved in this but we are hopeful of our plan being approved.

“We have faced constant challenges with people entering the site, despite our efforts to secure it. If someone is determined to get in they will find a way, despite whatever security we put in place. Unfortunately, particularly young people, seem drawn to it, and we urge people to stay away as we do not want anyone to be hurt.

“The road is closed to ensure the safety of the public because of the damage to the buildings.”

City centre councillor Salim Desai has called on Zimrock to do more to secure the site, he told BBC Lancashire he was ‘pushing hard’ for more security.

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