Asbestos presence identified nine years ago in collapsed building

Derry City and Strabane District Council has received an application for Listed Building Consent from the owners of the former Convent of Mercy in Pump Street.

The application for the “partial controlled demolition of [the] unsafe structure” was submitted on October 8 by the planning consultancy, MKA Planning.

The unoccupied Grade BI listed building partially collapsed in the early hours of Sunday, October 5.

The collapse resulted in the Pump Street being cordoned off to prevent vehicular access. The ongoing closure has caused ongoing disruption to residents and businesses in the immediate vicinity.

Council’s Governance and Strategic Planning committee was also told four adults and five children, including a baby, were “displaced from their [nearby Pump Street] accommodation” shortly after the collapse and were placed in emergency Housing Executive accommodation.

Updating The Derry News on Tuesday afternoon, a Council spokesperson said: “Council has proactively engaged with the owner [of the former Convent of Mercy] since the incident occurred with a view to balancing the health and safety concerns with those of preservation of built heritage.

“Council has received and validated an application for Listed Building Consent to make the building safe.

“We continue to engage with the owner of the building and his planning consultant in respect to their plans to undertake this work.

“Details of the Listed Building Consent proposal submitted to date (LA11/2025/0741/LBC) are available to view on the Planning Portal.”

In the North, Listed Building Consent is a specific planning control required for any work on a building of special architectural or historic interest that affects its character.

It is a separate planning application from standard planning permission and applies to internal and external alterations, extensions, and demolition.

The consent is granted by the local council after consultation with the Department for Communities’ Historic Environment Division (HED).

The HED consultation response to the LBC application stated: “Given the known dynamic movement of the façade of 16 Pump Street [the former Convent of Mercy], HED (Historic Buildings), in the round, supports the careful dismantling of the existing roof structure and the second and third floor walling and windows - referred to as Controlled Demolition Phase 1 and Phase 2 in the agent’s drawing SD1031 / PL01.

“As discussed during joint meetings earlier in the week and as illustrated in the agent’s drawing, it is anticipated that this controlled demolition will remove the immediate structures at risk of collapse and significantly reduce the danger to the public.

“This will, in turn, enable the owner’s team to carry out further structural reassessment and implement stabilisation measures to the lower floor sections of the elevation of 16 Pump Street.”

HED also stated: “Responsibility for ensuring the structural stability of the listed building and for compliance with all relevant health and safety regulations, rests solely with the owner. This includes any carefully phased demolition.”

Referring to the ‘Structural Report’ carried out by K2 Design, Consulting Structural and Civil Engineers, on behalf of Executive Studio 4D Ltd, whose office is registered at Talbot Park in the city, HED said: “The recommendations section notes ‘the structure will need rebuilt to match the existing’.

“This commitment is welcomed by HED (Historic Buildings), and we would seek for this commitment to be clearly stated within the description of any Listed Building Consent application and appropriately reflected in the submitted drawings.”

The ‘Structural Report’ also stated: “It is recommended the structure is demolished down to a safe height where the remaining facades can be inspected.

“The piers on either side of the facade should be kept providing some buttressing to the adjoining structures.

“When the structure has been taken down to a safe height remedial cemties should be installed between the front and rear walls and the party walls on the properties either side.

“A tarpaulin will also be required on the party walls either side to protect from the weather as these will be exposed. The structure will need rebuilt to match the existing,” said the ‘Structural Report’.

The ‘Unsafe Building Risk Assessment and Demolition Safety Report’ in the LBC application was prepared by a health and safety representative of Hollandale Projects Ltd, whose office is registered at Talbot Park in the city.

The assessment stated: “The structure is unsafe and presents a clear danger to life, neighboring property, and the surrounding environment.

“It is likely that the building will either collapse of its own accord or must be carefully demolished in a controlled manner to prevent uncontrolled failure.

“Given its location on a busy street, the potential presence of asbestos, and proximity to neighboring businesses and heritage buildings, the risks extend well beyond the site boundary.

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“Hollandale Projects Ltd has implemented precautionary measures including fencing, road closures, utility isolation, and demolition planning, and has notified all relevant statutory bodies,” it stated.

A ‘Refurbishment / Demolition Asbestos Survey’ was also submitted to Derry City and Strabane District Council as part of the LBC for the former convent.

The report, which was completed nine years ago, on September 28, 2016, stated: “Urgent remedial action is required to make safe asbestos identified on this site.”

Derry City and Strabane District Council has not yet made a decision on the granting of LBC for the building. It is expected the statutory process may take a number of weeks.

The Derry News approached the owners of the former Convent of Mercy for comment.