Guano clearance across Northampton
Pigeons cause two kinds of problem in Northampton. In and around the town centre, they roost and nest in older buildings, including former shoe factories, workshops and terraces, some of them now flats and offices. On the industrial estates around the town, they get into warehouses and units, where the droppings build up on steelwork, racking and roof lights.
Locus Services clears that build-up safely, then cleans and disinfects the area and takes the waste away with full paperwork. We work across Northampton and the surrounding towns, at homes as well as commercial sites.
Pigeon guano removal: before and after
Who deals with pigeons in Northampton?
West Northamptonshire Council’s pest control service offers treatments for the more common pests, such as rats, mice, insects and wasps. Pigeons aren’t on its list, so clearing droppings and nesting material from a building, and keeping the birds out, is normally down to the owner, landlord or managing agent.
Older buildings and the Boot and Shoe Quarter
Northampton’s Boot and Shoe Quarter became a conservation area in 2011. Centred on Abington Square, it’s a tight grid of streets where factories, workshops and workers’ terraces were built side by side from the 1850s. Buildings like these have plenty of ledges, parapets, broken vents and roof spaces where pigeons can settle.
English Heritage’s fact sheet on feral pigeons explains why that matters:
- Droppings are corrosive and can damage building stone as well as zinc, copper, lead, aluminium and iron.
- Nests are often built in gutters and downpipes, causing blockages and damp in the rooms nearby.
- Wood soaked with droppings is more prone to woodworm.
On older buildings we agree the cleaning method with you first and try it on a small area. If the building is listed, check with West Northamptonshire Council before cleaning or fixing proofing to it, as the work may need consent.
Warehouses and industrial estates
Northampton’s larger sites are grouped on estates such as Brackmills, Moulton Park, Swan Valley, Lodge Farm and Round Spinney, and near junctions 15 and 16 of the M1.
| Where | What we usually find | How we deal with it |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouses and distribution units | Droppings on racking tops, stock, lighting and walkways | Clear from MEWPs one zone at a time. See warehouse and factory cleaning |
| Factory units and plant rooms | Guano on ducting, motors and pipework | Planned around production and your site rules |
| Roof voids, lofts and attics | Dried build-ups, nests and contaminated insulation | Removed first, before anything can be cleaned |
| Gutters, roof lights and canopies | Nests and droppings blocking outlets and covering the glass | Cleared at the same visit. See gutter cleaning and skylight cleaning |
Why guano needs a specialist
English Heritage warns that where droppings and nesting material build up, diseases such as psittacosis can develop, and that the dust can be breathed straight into the lungs when it’s disturbed. Nests can also host fleas and bird mites. Our crews work in full PPE, including respirators, use dust suppression and keep the area closed off until it has been cleaned and disinfected. For more on the risks, read what is pigeon guano, and is it dangerous?
Before we start, we check for active nests. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it’s an offence to take, damage or destroy a wild bird’s nest while it’s in use or being built, and feral pigeons can breed all year round.
How a guano clearance works
- Free site survey: we inspect the affected areas, check for nests and plan safe access.
- Written quote and RAMS: you get a quote, risk assessments and method statements before work starts.
- Removal: droppings, nests and contaminated insulation are bagged up under dust suppression.
- Clean and disinfect: surfaces are washed down and disinfected, and any remaining smell is treated.
- Paperwork: the waste goes with a registered waste carrier, and you get the waste transfer notes.
Getting rid of the birds for good
English Heritage says prevention is the only long-term solution that has proved effective, and that buildings need checking and proofing so birds can’t get into roof spaces or nest. After the clean, we can fit bird proofing such as netting, spikes or wire.
Read more about our pigeon guano removal service, or see our commercial cleaning in Northampton.
Accredited and properly documented
Locus is SafeContractor-accredited, Constructionline Silver and a BICSc corporate member, and our operatives hold IPAF and CSCS cards. We’re registered with the Environment Agency as a waste carrier (CBDU320327).