City centre tower block demolitions to start

Demolition work on three tower blocks on the outskirts of Preston city centre is due to start on Tuesday, with the gradual demolition expected to take 15 months.

The flats, at the junction of Avenham Lane and Manchester Road, in Avenham, were initially due to be brought down in phases from March last year.

Plans to knock down Richmond House, Carlisle House and Lincoln House first emerged three years ago, after housing association Onward Homes concluded the properties could not be brought up to current standards.

The 11-storey blocks - built back in the 1960s - had to have their cladding removed in the wake of the fatal Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017.

The 180 households within the trio of Avenham towers were consulted on the future of their homes in 2022.

Details of Onward's plans to build a more modern development on the cleared site will be revealed when a planning application is submitted – expected to be later this year. 

However, it has previously been acknowledged that not all past residents will be guaranteed one of the new properties.

No long-term road closures are planned during the demolition work, which will be done from the top floors downwards, and also includes the levelling of an Onward neighbourhood office, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

However, surrounding streets may need to be shut temporarily on occasions, such as when cranes are being moved into place.

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