Last year I and Labour Councillors asked Lancaster City Council to complete a Compulsory Purchase Order on The Alexandra Hall in the City Centre, in order to secure the building and look to bring the building back into use.

We highlighted the landmark status of the building and it’s architectural significance. In response, the Chief Executive said that they were exploring their legal options.

I understand that in April of this year, Lancaster City Council served a Listed Building Enforcement Notice requiring the building’s owner to reinstate the windows and ensure the building was made secure. The owner appealed this to the Planning Inspectorate who have not yet made a decision. I wrote to the Planning Inspectorate in August urging them to reject the appeal.

In the meantime, the building has remained at the mercy of the elements and little effort has been made to reinstate the windows. Furthermore, I have been made aware by neighbouring residents that people have been able to gain access to the basement of the building and that the scaffolding which was erected is not secure either. I have flagged these with the City Council’s Enforcement Team and urged them again to consider issuing a Compulsory Purchase Order.

In an update, Lancaster City Council have laid out the various measures they are now putting in place as a result of consulting with their legal team.

1. They are liaising with the Health and Safety Executive about failures to comply with health and safety rules regarding the scaffolding. Likewise, the site does not have the necessary signage in place for the builders who do occasionally visit. While the site is not an active building site, there has been no care afforded to ensuring the scaffold is safe for the general public who are passing by, and the scaffolding is clearly used by people to trespass. The HSE are reviewing these issues and Building Enforcement are ensuring that this is a speedy process.
2. Regarding the building itself, the legal team has offered guidance relating specifically to the scaffold and the unsecured openings. They have served a Section 78 Notice under the Building Act 1984. This was served last week with a notice period given to comply and respond.
3. The owner has not responded so the City Council are now employing a contractor to secure the building with the following measures taken:
    – Securing all openings on all floors, access to the cellar and the other door opening and side window in the rear yard corner.
   – Steel shutter type on the ground floor openings for extra security and reassurance, and plywood with anti-tamper fixings.

Costs will be recovered from the owner via a Local Land Charge on the property.

I remain of the opinion that the City Council should issue a CPO to ensure the building has a future which can be enjoyed by everyone in Lancaster. Obviously, the immediate concern is that the building is safe and secure but the long term future use of the building must not escape us either.

The building has fallen into such disrepair and left to the elements, and I’m pleased that the City Council have been pursuing every avenue available to them, and we’ll now see some protection on the site including the doors and windows, which the owner has stubbornly refused to do.

Related links

City’s Heritage Must Be Preserved

Planning Inspectorate: Protect The Alexandra Hall!