General Demolition are proud to be delivering a sustainable strip-out as the principal contractor at 43–45 Portman Square.
Working alongside our client BentallGreenOak (BGO) and preparing the site for Bovis, we are helping to unlock high-quality Grade A office space in the heart of London’s West End, an area where demand for top-tier workspace far outstrips supply.
A technically complex, live project
The project involves the soft strip-out of an 185,000 sq. ft office building, from ground level through to level 8. Our team are responsible for the removal of architectural finishes and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) services. All works are carried out with precision and care, ensuring that ground-floor retail tenants, So To Bed and Pret, remain fully operational with uninterrupted access.
The full scope of works for this project includes:
- Removal of carpets, tiles, and other floor finishes.
- Careful strip-out, cleaning, and retention of the raised access flooring system for reuse.
- Removal of joinery, glazed partitions, linings, ceilings, and acoustic barriers.
- Full dismantling of WC fittings, cubicles, IPS panels, and sanitaryware.
Though a technically challenging strip-out, the combination of scale, logistics, and live environment draws on our 40 years of experience managing complex, multi-tenanted buildings in central London.
Engaging with neighbours to minimise disruption
We know that demolition doesn’t happen in isolation; it affects the people and businesses around it. That’s why General Demolition places community engagement at the centre of our approach. At Portman Square, a dedicated neighbourhood liaison officer will lead communications with local stakeholders, ensuring early engagement, clear updates, and open channels for questions.
Meanwhile, site traffic, personnel behaviour, and logistics will be tightly managed to keep disruption to an absolute minimum. It’s this balance of technical excellence and people-first thinking that ensures smooth delivery in live, central London environments.
Accelerating the change to sustainable demolition
Sustainability drives everything we do here at General Demolition. At Portman Square, we are maximising material reuse to set new benchmarks for responsible strip-out projects. Continuing our partnership with reuse specialist Material Index, we are listing items for redistribution and a second life. So far, desks, chairs, booths, rugs, plant pots, lighting, and wooden slats have been salvaged for reuse within BGO’s office portfolio. By embedding a circular economy approach, we’re proving that demolition can be a force for environmental progress.
As our team explains: “It is always a pleasure to work with BGO and their Welput fund, the largest specialist Central London office fund that focuses on creating exclusive, world-class, planet-friendly places designed with the future in mind. We share their commitment to reuse, sustainability, and ESG values, and this project is a clear demonstration of those shared principles in action.”
Experience that delivers
This project builds on our extensive track record in central London. We are currently delivering soft strip works at nearby 50 Stratton Street for BEAM and at 19–24 Dering Street in Mayfair, while our completed works on Argyll Street show our ability to succeed in similarly high-profile, logistically challenging locations. Led by project manager Marius Apetrei, works at 43–45 Portman Square commenced on 7 April 2025. Once complete, the building will be ready for transformation into sustainable, state-of-the-art office space that meets the growing demand for Grade A stock in London’s West End.
At General Demolition, we combine four decades of expertise with forward-thinking innovation to accelerate the change towards sustainable demolition. This project is the latest step in that journey.
