Asbestos Removal Begins at Former Hospital Site in Denbigh, Wales 2026

Key Points

• The dismantling and clearing of asbestos and demolition of the unstable structures at the historic North Wales Hospital in Denbigh have begun.
• Jones Bros Civil Engineering will undertake the Phase 1 clean-up, demolition, and site clearance.
• As per the Denbighshire County Council, this project will help protect the Grade II* listed main hospital building and make the live site safe.
• According to the planning portal documentation published on November 10, 2026, there are issues concerning bats and the legal permissions needed for the demolition.
• The Denbighshire County Council approved the contract worth £4.7 million with Jones Bros in November 2025.
• The first phase of the demolition and remediation project is estimated to take up to two years.
• The wider renovation project for the Victorian former asylum is estimated to take over 12 years.
• The land for the project was purchased by the county council via a compulsory purchase order in 2018 after the process started in 2013.
• The council reiterates that any unauthorized access to the site will not be tolerated due to health-and-safety issues.
• Further asbestos clean-up, demolition, and security arrangements are also being considered.

Wales (Wales Times) November 14, 2026 — Work to remove asbestos and demolish unstable buildings at the former North Wales Hospital has begun, as Denbighshire County Council moves into the first phase of a long-term redevelopment of the historic Denbigh site.

Jones Bros Civil Engineering is undertaking the remediation and demolition works. The council says the programme is intended to clear parts of the site, remove hazardous materials and make the area safer for contractors working on the project.

As reported by the Denbighshire Free Press, the first phase includes asbestos removal, demolition of structurally unsound buildings and site clearance. These works are described as essential preparatory steps before the wider redevelopment, which is expected to continue for more than 12 years.

A spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said:

“The first phase of the works to clear the site has begun with the removal of asbestos and demolition of unstable buildings.”

The council added that the work is “an essential part of the project that will protect the integrity of the main range grade II listed building and make the site safer for the day-to-day workings of the contractors as they progress with the project.”

Why is asbestos being removed first?

Asbestos removal is among the earliest tasks because the material can present a health risk when disturbed during demolition or construction. The council has not published a detailed public breakdown of every location where asbestos has been identified, but previous reporting has described asbestos-insulated pipes in heating tunnels beneath the former hospital.

As reported by Construction News, Jones Bros said in 2025 that there were “substantial amounts of asbestos” in tunnels beneath the existing building, where pipes had been lagged with asbestos. The company also said mitigation measures were needed to protect roosting bats while allowing asbestos to be removed safely.

The current works form part of Phase 1 of the redevelopment. According to the council’s Local Regeneration Fund project information, the main phase of asbestos removal, demolition and site clearance began in June 2026.

The Denbighshire Free Press reported that the initial demolition and remediation works are expected to last up to two years.

Which buildings are being demolished?

The council has identified a group of buildings intended for demolition as part of the current works. A document lodged on Denbighshire County Council’s planning portal on November 10, 2026, sets out bat considerations and legal approvals relating to the demolition.

As reported by the Denbighshire Free Press, the document identifies the buildings intended for demolition and says this forms part of the final Listed Building Consent application currently held up with Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service.

The main hospital building is Grade II* listed and is recognised for its architectural and historic importance. The council’s stated position is that clearing unstable structures around it will help protect the listed main range.

The former North Wales Hospital, also known locally as the Denbigh Asylum, is a Victorian former psychiatric hospital. The site has been affected by arson and vandalism in previous years, according to reporting by the Denbighshire Free Press.

How much is the first phase costing?

Denbighshire County Council’s cabinet approved a contract worth up to £4.7 million for Jones Bros Civil Engineering in November 2025. The contract covers Phase 1 site clearance, asbestos removal and demolition works.

As reported by Nation.Cymru, the council’s cabinet decision allowed the local authority to proceed with site clearance, asbestos removal and the demolition of buildings. The contract was awarded to Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK Ltd.

The council’s own committee papers state that the proposed contract was for “Site clearance, asbestos removal and demolition as part of the Phase 1 of the re-development of the Former North Wales Hospital site.”

The £4.7 million figure is the maximum value of the Phase 1 contract. It does not represent the total cost of the wider redevelopment, which is expected to run over more than 12 years.

What has already happened on site?

Work on the site has progressed in stages. The council’s project information says enabling works began in November and involved removing and relocating rubble to improve access, as well as vegetation clearance to support surveying.

Jones Bros has also carried out additional security works across the site, focusing on securing key and potentially dangerous buildings.

The council’s July 2026 update said a turf-cutting event marked the start of the next phase of works. It said initial demolition and remediation works would progress and were expected to last up to 24 months.

The North Wales Growth Deal quarterly performance report for the first quarter of 2026-27 said that the contract for Phase 1 demolition, remediation and site-security works had been completed with Denbighshire County Council, and that works commenced in early June.

Why did the council take control of the site?

Denbighshire County Council bought the former North Wales Hospital site using a compulsory purchase order in 2018. The process began in 2013 after the former owners failed to comply with a repairs notice.

The compulsory purchase order gave the council control of the site after years of concern over its condition. The council has since led plans to bring the large, historic site back into use.

The former hospital is a major heritage asset in Denbigh. Its main building is Grade II* listed, a designation that recognises buildings of particularly important architectural or historic interest.

The site’s condition and the presence of hazardous materials have shaped the sequence of work. Before wider redevelopment can proceed, the council says unstable buildings must be demolished, asbestos must be removed and the site must be made safer.

What role do bats play in the works?

Bat considerations remain part of the demolition process. The planning-portal document lodged on November 10 refers to bat considerations and legal approvals connected with the works.

Earlier reporting by the Rhyl Journal also highlighted the interaction between asbestos removal and bat protection at the site. The report described how roosting bats and asbestos contamination had affected progress on the hospital site.

Jones Bros previously said that mitigation measures were needed to protect bats while ensuring asbestos could be removed safely.

The presence of protected species does not mean work cannot proceed. It means the contractor and council must follow ecological and legal requirements before and during demolition activity.

What happens next at the site?

The council says further asbestos removal and demolition have been planned, alongside the completion of additional security measures.

The current works are expected to continue for up to two years. After that, the wider redevelopment is expected to continue over more than 12 years.

The council has described the site as an active construction site. It says unauthorised access remains strictly prohibited because of health-and-safety risks.

The redevelopment is intended to include homes, offices and community spaces on the 21-hectare site, according to Construction News. Earlier reporting by WalesOnline also said the initial phase includes demolition, site remediation, utility upgrades, bio-habitat infrastructure and a construction skills centre.

Background of the development

The former North Wales Hospital in Denbigh is a Victorian former asylum with a Grade II* listed main building. The site was acquired by Denbighshire County Council through a compulsory purchase order in 2018, following a process that began in 2013 when the former owners did not comply with a repairs notice.

The council’s redevelopment plans have faced several practical constraints, including asbestos contamination, unstable buildings, ecological considerations and the need to protect the historic main range. In 2025, Jones Bros said that asbestos-insulated pipes in heating tunnels beneath the building created a significant contamination issue, while roosting bats also required protection.

In November 2025, the council’s cabinet approved the up-to-£4.7 million Phase 1 contract with Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK Ltd for site clearance, asbestos removal and demolition. The main phase of asbestos removal, demolition and site clearance began in June 2026, according to the council’s project information.

The current works are therefore an early but significant stage in a long-running effort to secure, clear and eventually redevelop one of Denbigh’s most prominent historic sites.

Prediction: What it means for local residents

For Denbigh residents, the start of asbestos removal and demolition is likely to mean continued construction activity around the former hospital site over the coming years. The council says the works are intended to make the site safer and protect the listed main building, but the programme is expected to last up to two years before the wider redevelopment advances further.

Local people may see increased contractor activity, security measures and restrictions around the site. The council has stressed that unauthorised access is prohibited because of health-and-safety risks, particularly while asbestos removal and demolition are under way.

For prospective residents, businesses and community groups interested in the eventual redevelopment, the works represent a practical step towards preparing the site for future construction. However, the long timetable means any visible change to the wider site is likely to develop gradually rather than immediately.

For heritage supporters, the immediate priority will be whether the demolition and remediation works can be carried out without damaging the Grade II* listed main hospital building. The council says protecting that building is a central purpose of the current phase.