St Joseph’s Orphanage buildings demolition paused as safety concerns raised

Demolition work had paused on Friday when Blog Preston visited the site Pic: Blog Preston

Demolition on fire-scarred buildings in Preston city centre has been paused.

Nearby residents and business owners have raised concerns about what they say is a ‘gung-ho manner’ of how the former St Joseph’s Orphanage and Mount Street Hospital site is being brought down.

The Health and Safety Executive confirmed they had taken enforcement action and asked for a pause in the demolition.

Developers Zimrock Ltd began the demolition work in early March in earnest after months of the buildings being declared unsafe after a major fire in November last year. The months of uncertainty were put down to how to handle asbestos uncovered in the buildings to ensure it was removed safely.

Mount Street has remained closed off since the fire and while demolition work is taking place. On Friday 4 April we reported how it was making ‘good progress’.

On Friday 11 April the demolition came to a halt as HSE inspectors visited the site and Blog Preston understands work is likely to be halted until the middle of this week while changes to demolition tactics are made.

A spokesperson for the HSE said: “To prevent unsafe work, enforcement action was taken to protect those working on the site.”

And a spokesperson for Zimrock told Blog Preston: “We had complaints from those nearby and the HSE want to ensure we are following guidelines. We hope to be able to commence work again this week subject to HSE approval.”

Demolition work at the former orphanage in Mount Street Pic: Sonia Bashir — Demolition work in recent weeks at the former orphanage in Mount Street Pic: Sonia Bashir

Zimrock had said they hoped to complete the demolition of the buildings – which face onto Mount Street – by May.

The buildings were due for demolition as part of a proposal, which has planning approval, to build townhouses and apartments set around the grade-II listed chapel and tower which is being retained.

Shuddering on Theatre Street

Owner of Kenworthy Chiropractic in Theatre Street, Johanna McCormick, says it is ‘exhausting’ operating from near to the St Joseph’s site.

She told Blog Preston: “We border right onto the site and before it was the fires and now it’s the demolition.

“It’s exhausting not knowing what’s going to happen next.

“The work going on is absolutely rocking our foundations. There’s cracks appearing in the walls.”

Johanna has operated from the city centre site for the last eight-and-a-half years.

She said: “They don’t seem to have any regard for how it’s being brought down. It is gung-ho.

“There’s debris falling everywhere and you’re worried about what might come through the roof one day.

“I hope of course there’s a way to get the site redeveloped because for everyone’s sake we want to see that kind of city centre used and be better for all – because being down this street for the past few years we’ve had fires, kids running around on that site and causing problems and now the demolition job.”

Kenworthy Chiropractic remains open and trading as usual amid the demolition work ongoing.

Johanna said they had raised concerns directly with the demolition firm and previously concerns about the safety of St Joseph’s site with the building owners but not seen any changes.

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