St Mary’s Hospital, Isle of Scilly

August 2025 proved to be an exciting time for Plymouth Office after our surveyor, Bryan, was commissioned by Gilpin Environmental Ltd to conduct a refurbishment survey at St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Scilly.

In the summer of 2024, ground was broken on the site that would soon become the new Isles of Scilly Integrated Health and Social Care Facility by His Royal Highness, Prince William. The plans for the facility included constructing a health and social care wing that would be integrated into the original building. This new site will provide 12 residential care home beds, NHS inpatient beds, and a modern maternity suite. Alongside the installation of the new wing, refurbishment work began on the original building earlier this year.

The original building, estimated to have been constructed in 1938, has undergone numerous repairs and refurbishments since it opened over 85 years ago. Given the building’s age, there remains a likelihood of asbestos being present, and as such, Casa Environmental was commissioned to conduct a refurbishment survey of the ground floor. This survey included several medical rooms, treatment rooms, offices, stores, and corridors throughout the ground floor.

The survey was a substantial piece of work, made more complex by the fact that the site remained active throughout. To ensure the safety of both staff and patients, our surveyor exercised considerable care and attention during the process. This also required that all work areas were kept clean and tidy, as well as safe for reoccupation once the survey was completed.

Gilpin Environmental Ltd, who commissioned the work, also provided accommodation and transportation to the island for our surveyor, who had the unique opportunity to travel to the Isle of Scilly by helicopter. Although the flight was delayed due to weather conditions, the works were still completed on schedule and in full compliance with HSE’s Duty to Manage Asbestos regulations. Through this project, the client is fulfilling its legal obligations under these regulations, which require property managers of non-domestic premises to assess, manage, and mitigate asbestos risk—particularly during refurbishment.

Our involvement ensures both safety and regulatory compliance, while also supporting the continued operation and legacy of this key healthcare facility and future proofing the health of the island’s residents for years to come.

We look forward to continuing our partnership with Gilpin Environmental Ltd on future asbestos-related projects.

View more case studies