WORK is being carried out to remove asbestos from a building which is to become a new office for Herefordshire Council's adult's and wellbeing services.

The asbestos remediation works at Elgar House, on Holmer Road, were approved at a cost of £59,000.

A refurbishment plan – agreed when the building was acquired on a 10-year lease in February – is due to begin in August with the accommodation being ready by December 2016.

Ahead of that, a refurbishment asbestos survey is to be carried out to locate asbestos containing material in the area where the work will take place.

That survey involves destructive inspection to gain access to all areas.

Herefordshire Council said the majority of the cost – £50,000 – is unavoidable as the refurbishment planned for Elgar House requires the removal of most of this material.

There will be a two week mobilisation/Health and Safety Executive notice period followed by four weeks on site to complete the work.

It is hoped the work will be completed by July 25, allowing the main refurbishment to start in August.

The cost of the works will be funded from the corporate accommodation capital budget as approved at full council on December 18 2015.

The work will be undertaken as part of an existing contract with Integral UK Ltd.