Asbestos setback for new Calpe House project

Asbestos has been found inside the new Calpe House buildings in London, in a development that will push back completion date by three months and cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to resolve.

The project for the new Calpe House was scheduled for completion by March 2017, but the discovery means work at the site will now continue until at least May next year.

The asbestos was discovered in voids under the floorboards of the 155-year old, Grade II listed buildings in Norfolk Square, London, which the Calpe House Trust purchased in order to keep up with demand.

The buildings are being refurbished at a cost of £6m to re-home Calpe House from its current location and increase capacity threefold.

News of the asbestos discovery comes as the charity fundraising drive launched last December to help with the financing of the new site nears the £750,000 mark in terms of contributions and funding commitments.

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