Persimmon: A Proactive Partnership in Asbestos Management

Client: Persimmon Homes
Services: Asbestos Project Management & Training
Sector: Construction
Location: Yorkshire

The Client

Persimmon is one of the largest and most successful house builders in the UK. Established in York in 1972, the Persimmon Group now operates 29 regional offices and factories producing bricks, tiles and timber frames, along with an internet service provider. With a nationwide presence, Persimmon employs over 5,000 people and, in 2023 alone, built 9,922 new homes.

Committed to the highest standards of design, construction and aftercare, Persimmon offers a diverse range of properties, from studio apartments to premium family homes. Its team of skilled technicians and craftsmen takes pride in constructing high-quality, sustainable properties in desirable locations where communities thrive.

The Challenge

In the construction industry, new-build developers are well-versed in ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. As a leading property developer committed to the highest standards of safety, Persimmon understands the importance of protecting the health and well-being of all stakeholders. When its safety team discovered the presence of high-risk asbestos-containing materials (ACM) in the plant room at its office in York, they acted quickly and sought advice from industry specialists to ensure the situation was managed safely and effectively. With the site requiring important maintenance, it was necessary to find a compliant and timely solution to mitigate any potential risks.

Persimmon’s proactive approach reflected its strong understanding of the regulatory framework surrounding asbestos management. Recognising an opportunity to further strengthen its compliance and safety practices, the company identified key areas for improvement. These included updating the building’s asbestos register, updating the asbestos management plan, and equipping its team with the necessary skills to manage asbestos-related risks confidently. To address these priorities, Persimmon partnered with our independent asbestos consultancy team to provide expert guidance, deliver tailored training and safeguard the integrity of its maintenance projects.

iON’s Solution

Our team of asbestos specialists provided a comprehensive asbestos project management service that included the following activities: 

• Development of a robust scope of work
• Procurement of competent asbestos suppliers
• Monitoring supplier performance via regular site inspections
• Compilation and issue of a project completion pack
• Oversight of the asbestos register development and update
• Development of a new site-based Asbestos Management Plan
• Delivery of certified and tailored asbestos training

We wanted to ensure that Persimmon was well equipped to deal with similar activities in the future and maintain long-term compliance. To achieve this, we provided IATP certified Duty to Manage / Responsible Person training, tailored to the team's specific needs. This training equipped delegates with the skills they needed to competently manage asbestos-containing materials.

Ongoing Support

Having provided assurance of Persimmon's compliance with Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) at its York office, we are now discussing the merits of implementing a consistent approach to asbestos management across its property portfolio.

“Having worked with the team at iON previously, we knew they had the necessary independence and experience to support the business in managing its asbestos on site. Their approach was professional and supportive, and the project was delivered on time, within budget and facilitated the important maintenance work required in the affected plant rooms.

The training provided by iON’s Principal Consultant, Cat Howard, was perfectly honed to our needs and included specific information on our new asbestos management plan and procedures to follow for future projects.

With iON’s help, we accepted the offer to support some research for the HSE’s current campaign on the Duty to Manage. This was a useful exercise where the HSE team visited York to review documentation now in place to manage asbestos compliance and suggested how the wider business should replicate the work done here across all our operational sites.”

Andrew Locking, Group Senior Internal Auditor Health, Safety & Environmental

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