An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is being carried out at The Panorama in Ashford after potentially-deadly asbestos was found.

The investigation is into “alleged breaches of health and safety legislation”, and concerns the discovery of the substance at the Park Street building.

In June, work on the nine-storey former office block ground to a halt when the harmful material was found behind a wall.

The site was closed for a month while the HSE ran checks. David O’Neil, development director of Dukelease Properties, which owns the building, says the current investigation relates to the same notice.

He said: “Contractors at The Panorama, Barroerock, remain in dialogue with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regarding the original prohibition notice relating to asbestos found on site earlier this year.

“We can confirm this is the only outstanding inquiry with the HSE and that there are no other matters under investigation. Barroerock has been co-operating fully with the HSE for all site visits to date and construction at The Panorama continues.”

The HSE have issued four notices to Barroerock in total, dating back to April 2013.

One related to the failure to take “suitable and sufficient action to ensure that workers on all floors where they may be working or accessing are alerted to a fire or other emergency simultaneously.”

Another states that a demolition or refurbishment survey identified asbestos throughout the buildings and that there was “no suitable and sufficient assessment to ensure that the risks created by exposure that may arise during construction works are adequately controlled.”

An HSE spokesman said: “I can confirm that the company did comply with the notices that are on the enforcement database and thus fulfilled the requirements HSE specified.

“The current investigation is into alleged breaches of health and safety legislation.”