Emergency Dismantling, Preston City Centre

This was a delicate, emergency dismantling operation in Preston City Centre — removing unsafe roof slates from the roof of the former Orphanage on Mount Street. The building, which was opened in September and has significant local historical interest, had developed a serious risk of roof slates becoming dislodged and falling onto the public below.

The Emergency

With the building located in Preston City Centre, the potential hazard to members of the public from loose roof slates was significant and immediate. The local authority required urgent action — and Hardcore Crushing was called in to make the structure safe without delay.

This type of emergency dismantling work requires a very different approach to conventional demolition. The building was not being demolished — it needed to be carefully worked on at height, with specialist access equipment, to remove only the at-risk slates while preserving the rest of the historic structure intact.

Our Approach

• Rapid mobilisation to Preston City Centre
• Risk assessment and method statement prepared on site
• Specialist high-reach equipment used to access the roof safely
• Systematic removal of loose and at-risk roof slates
• Public exclusion zone maintained throughout
• Structure made safe without damage to the retained building fabric

Result

The unsafe roof slates were removed safely, the exclusion zone lifted, and the public footpath restored. The historic former Orphanage was left structurally sound and no longer presenting a hazard to the public below. Another clean emergency response from Hardcore Crushing.