Caxton Hill
What to do with a 90% vacant 1940s industrial estate on Hertford's Caxton Hill.
Once a hive of activity, the almost derelict estate was in desperate need of a new lease of life.
An approved scheme for modern industrial units was set to bring job creation and regeneration to this area, but first General Demolition was asked to level the site before it was redeveloped to an industry leading, sustainable last mile logistics hub.
Professional Team:
Padrock Asset Management / Lysander / Glenny
Programme duration:
22 weeks
Value:
Over £750k
In summary
Photographic condition, asbestos and building services surveys
Isolation of services
Installation of perimeter fencing
Internal strip out of 35 structures
Removal of licensed and non licensed asbestos
Removal of asphalt
Mechanical and hand demolition in 4 phases
Removal of slab and foundations
Piling breaking to 1/2m
Crushing of arisings
Protection of trees on site
24/7 site protection
The project
35 units set across the sprawling 12-acre site were to be demolished ahead of a new development of Grade A logistics and storage facilities – a welcome addition to this prime commuter corner of the South-East. General Demolition spent five months razing the structures to the ground and preparing the site for the new scheme.
Making room for growth
Break-ins and fly tipping had become a nuisance on this almost derelict site, so a hefty perimeter fence was installed, and site patrols commenced at the bell, continuing around the clock throughout works.
Demolition of 35 units – ranging in size from 5,000-220,000sqft - called for a phased approach, and 8 crawler excavators. Weighing in at between 21-49 tonnes, these machines packed quite the punch.
Low blows were fine as the units were all one or two storey structures. Unsurprising given their 1940s origins, a large amount of asbestos was found during our surveys – both licenced and non-licenced – which was duly removed. Mechanical demolition was aided by nimble hands - works in Phase 1 included the separation of units in and out of the project’s scope as well as work along a lengthy boundary line.
Once all demolition phases were complete and the slab removed, the team set about cropping the heads off more than 800 foundation piles. With the site graded and all arisings stockpiled for future use, GD delivered the site back to the client as a blank canvas ready for the next step in its evolution.
