Asbestos Removal in Hampshire

Found asbestos in Hampshire? Do this before you ring anyone

Hampshire has a longer history with this material than most counties. The dockyards at Portsmouth and the shipyards around Southampton used asbestos heavily for decades, and the county also carries a large defence estate and a lot of housing built in the post war expansion. That mix means the material turns up in domestic properties, in old commercial units, and in buildings that changed hands from the public sector years ago and were never properly surveyed.

Every HSE licensed asbestos contractor covering Hampshire

There are eight firms holding a licence here. The trade association directory most people find lists only the firms that pay for membership, so it shows fewer than this. Neither list is wrong. One is just longer, and this one shows you the licence numbers.

8 of the 8 hold a standard licence, and that is the type that covers removal. Every firm on this list holds a standard licence, which is the type that covers removal work.

Two things on the Hampshire list worth knowing

• With only eight firms for a county this size, you will be quoted by outsiders too. Companies based in Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire and West Sussex all work across Hampshire. That is normal, and their licences are just as valid. Check the number against their own county.

Getting rid of small amounts in Hampshire

Hampshire County Council takes cement bonded asbestos sheet at five recycling centres: Andover, Basingstoke, Efford, Netley and Portsmouth. No other type of asbestos is accepted anywhere in the county.

Two rules catch people out. The first is the cap: no more than 15 sheets, at a maximum sheet size of 1200mm by 600mm. The second is that you have to book in advance, by phone, so they can check the container is not already full and waiting to be emptied. Turning up unannounced with a car full of sheeting is a wasted trip.

Small amounts fall inside your DIY waste allowance. Beyond that the charge is £12 for each sheet or part sheet, and part sheet means what it says, so breaking a sheet in half to fit the car costs you double. Payment is card only at every site.

On wrapping, whole sheets should be wrapped securely in plastic sheeting and transported whole. Small or broken pieces have to be double bagged and sealed. Once you count the charge, the trips and the booking, a single garage roof usually comes out cheaper with a contractor.

The South East is well above the national mesothelioma rate

• South East: 63.7 deaths per million
• Great Britain as a whole: 55.9

Only the North East is materially higher. Hampshire is part of the reason. Naval dockyard and ship repair work at Portsmouth and Southampton used asbestos in large quantities, and mesothelioma takes decades to appear, so today’s figures reflect work done a generation ago.

Figures from the HSE’s mesothelioma statistics for Great Britain.

What asbestos removal in Hampshire is likely to cost

Hampshire sits at the higher end for labour, closer to the South East than the national average. Expect quotes above the middle of any published range, and expect the gap between the cheapest and dearest quote to be wide. Get three.

Asbestos removal in Hampshire: questions people ask

Can I take asbestos to the tip in Hampshire?

Yes, with conditions. Cement bonded sheet only, no more than 15 sheets at 1200mm by 600mm, booked in advance by phone, at Andover, Basingstoke, Efford, Netley or Portsmouth.

How much does the tip charge?

Small amounts come out of your DIY waste allowance. After that it is £12 per sheet or part sheet, card payment only.

Why do I have to book?

Because the asbestos container fills up and has to be emptied. The phone call is to check there is space before you drive over.

How many licensed contractors are near me?

8 hold a current licence with a Hampshire address. Firms from the surrounding counties work here as well, so your real choice is wider than the table.

Getting a quote from a Hampshire contractor

Firms in the neighbouring counties quote for this work routinely. If you want to widen the field, see the licensed contractors covering Bristol and Avon.

Not in Hampshire? See every area we cover.