Preston City Council's ongoing commitment to securing and preserving heritage buildings

In recent months, Preston City Council has identified numerous empty buildings within the city centre where community safety, preventing anti-social behaviour and/or preserving their heritage value needs to be addressed.

Most of these buildings are in private ownership and so the Council has established a task group to oversee and co-ordinate action. This includes a range of departments from the Council and representatives from the Police and Fire Service.

A liaison group with representatives from Preserving Preston's Heritage has also been set up.

The Council has taken steps to obtain ownership details and make contact with owners to draw attention to the risk to their property.

Owners of the priority buildings have been invited to meet with the task group, but so far only two have replied.

Furthermore, for certain listed buildings identified which are showing the most deterioration, it has been necessary for the Council to assess the risk to understand the extent of deterioration and damage, assess the scope of works needed to remedy it, decide whether statutory action is warranted and what type of action is appropriate.  

Councillor Amber Afzal, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulation at Preston City Council said:

By adopting a joined up, multi-agency approach to tackling the complex issues that have blighted these properties through years of neglect, good progress is now being made. Public safety is our main concern but it is critical that also, wherever possible, we retain our heritage buildings that are so important to Preston's history and give the city its unique cultural identity.

Councillor Valerie Wise, Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building and the City Regeneration portfolio at Preston City Council is also keen to see a brighter future for these neglected buildings. She said:

Repurposing and bringing back to life these forgotten and unloved architectural gems, many of which are listed, is so important in the overall regeneration plans for the city.

We will continue to work closely with the owners and landlords of these special interest properties to rejuvenate the city centre in the best possible way for future economic growth and architectural benefit.

An update on the most significant cases is provided as follows:

27 Winckley Square (former home of Edith Rigby) - Grade II listed building

The Council has taken action and been engaging with the owners for some time in connection with community safety, preventing anti-social behaviour and/or preserving the heritage value of the building.

Certain steps have been taken by the owners, but the Council are of the view that further work is necessary.

The Council has previously instructed a survey of the building to assess its condition, which identified numerous concerns. Due to the condition of the building, it was not possible to complete the survey of the inside of the building.

In December 2024 measures were taken by the owner to provide structural support to allow an internal survey to be carried out.

The internal survey was carried out this week (week commencing 24 February), which will enable the Council to determine the scope of works necessary to remedy the deterioration and whether statutory action is warranted.

This will be communicated to the owner in the first instance.

The Council is aware the rooflight is open to the elements and the owner has confirmed that temporary measures will be taken to weatherproof the rooflight. This is an appropriate course of action until the scope of necessary repair works, which will include this, is determined.    

The Old Dog Inn - Grade II listed building

The Council has drawn the owner's attention to the rear wall, which contains numerous cracks, some of which are significant in size and if not addressed could lead to an uncontrolled collapse.

In an attempt to address the deterioration, the owner submitted a listed building consent application proposing to demolish and rebuild the rear wall. This was carefully assessed and following the submission of further information concerning the methodology of the work, listed building consent was granted in February 2025.

The listed building consent was accompanied with a letter informing the owner that given the condition of the rear wall had worsened and to prevent an uncontrolled collapse of the rear wall, the Council is actively considering the use of statutory enforcement powers to execute works urgently necessary for the preservation of the building.

To that end, the Council instructed a survey of the building, which has been carried out, to inform the owner of what steps are needed to prevent an uncontrolled collapse.

The owner is fully aware that unless the necessary works are completed within an appropriate timeframe then the works could be carried out by the Council in default.  

St. Joseph's Orphanage, Mount Street - complex of Grade II listed buildings

Planning permission and listed building consent were both granted in February 2021 for alterations to the Chapel and attached tower, demolition of five listed buildings and the erection of three apartment blocks and ten town houses.

Three out of the five buildings have been demolished. One building, adjoining the tower, has been partially demolished.

The other building adjacent to Mount Street was the subject of a fire in November 2024. The fire has left this building unsafe and dangerous, and Mount Street was closed as a result until the building is demolished to protect the public.

The delays in the demolition have largely been due to satisfying the Health and Safety Executive that the demolition methodology satisfactorily addressed the removal of asbestos and the safety of the building and those adjoining, the demolition contractors and members of the public.

Ground works commenced this week, and the demolition will start on 03 March 2025, and it is expected to be completed in 12-weeks.

Harris Institute, Grade II* listed building

The Council has taken action and is engaging with the owner in connection the deterioration of the building and its future preservation.

Certain steps have been taken by the owner, which include remediation works to the party wall, repairing the roof and addressing the water ingress, and eradicating dry rot, the latter takes time to treat and remove.

Planning permission and listed building consent were both granted in December 2024 for minor alterations, several community and office uses, and holiday lets within Regent House.

The owner has responded positively and has recently met with the Council to provide an update on the future of the building.

The approved scheme for the building will be delivered in phases, with the holiday lets opening first before the rest of the scheme is delivered.

Additional Information

• Grade II* listed - This has greater importance as a heritage asset.