Gala Bingo Demolition, Chorley

Client Role: Principal Contractor
Programme: Phase 1 – 6 Weeks | Phase 2 – 5 Months
Location: Chorley Town Centre, adjacent to Police Station, Church, Shops, and Public Car Park

Scope of Works

Inglenorth were appointed as Principal Contractor to deliver the safe and efficient demolition of the former Gala Bingo Hall in Chorley town centre. The works included:

  • Full asbestos removal and strip-out

  • Complete top-down demolition to 1m below finished floor level

  • Complex logistics management within a live, town centre environment

Pre-Demolition Planning

Extensive pre-construction planning was undertaken to ensure safety, compliance, and minimal disruption to local stakeholders. Key preparation works included:

👉 Submission of Section 80 Demolition Notice

👉 Coordination of service disconnections (Cadent, ENWL, Water, BT)

👉 Relocation of local bus stop and taxi rank

👉 Applications for temporary road and footpath closures

👉 Refurbishment & Demolition Survey and Ecological Assessment

👉 Development of a detailed Traffic Management Strategy

👉 Full site setup, including hoarding, scaffolding, and welfare facilities

Key Findings

During the planning and survey stages, several significant challenges were identified:

  • Asbestos: Presence of Chrysotile, Crocidolite, and Amosite, including approximately 670m² of asbestos textured coating at ceiling heights up to 16m.

  • Ecology: Evidence of bats, nesting birds, and protected trees requiring management under BS5837:2012 and Natural England licensing.

  • Local Constraints: Works located adjacent to key community facilities and coinciding with major local events such as the Chorley Flower Show and the G7 Speakers Summit.

Solutions Delivered

Inglenorth implemented a range of targeted solutions to deliver the project safely and in full regulatory compliance:

✅ Clearance activities scheduled outside nesting bird season.

✅ Natural England licence obtained; ecological toolbox talks delivered by a licensed ecologist.

✅ Installation of bat boxes and supervision of soft-strip works to ensure ecological compliance.

✅ Protection of mature trees in line with BS5837:2012 requirements.

✅ Safe access to high-level asbestos achieved via a licensed scaffolding contractor.

✅ Close coordination with local police, ensuring site security during event-related work pauses.

Outcome

Despite a series of environmental, logistical, and stakeholder challenges, the project was delivered safely, compliantly, and on programme and budget.

Inglenorth’s proactive planning, clear communication, and experienced site management ensured minimal disruption to the local community and upheld the highest standards of safety and environmental responsibility.