Case Studies

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Demolition of 12 Paardeberg Road (Unit J), Walker Lines Industrial Estate, Bodmin, Cornwall PL31 1EY

The site is located on the southern end of Bodmin within Walker Lines Industrial Estate. Unit J was a large industrial unit consisting of three attached buildings. The buildings had been extensively vandalized and suffered fire damage.

Dorton Demolition & Excavation Limited (Dde) were awarded the demolition and site clearance contract through a public procurement process. The Employer was Treveth Commercial LLP – a partnership business set up by Cornwall Council.

Google Earth image – Demolition site boundaries demarcated in a red pathway.

Unit J – Extensive vandalism and fire damage.

Site constraints and challenges
1. The site is located in an industrial estate within a dense traffic area.

Bodmin is the commercial and administrative centre of Cornwall, and Walker Lines Industrial Estate is a key location for industry and logistics in the County due to its central location and proximity to the A30 and A38 which are the two major arterial roads linking to the wider motorway network.

Dde enclosed site boundaries with fencing, debris netting, and appropriate signage. Site access was located away from noise sensitive receptors.

2. The pitched timber roofs of the industrial units were overclad with asbestos cement corrugated roof sheets. Internally, suspended ceilings were coated with an asbestos-textured finish (Artex). During the fire, roofs and ceilings collapsed resulting in asbestos debris throughout the building.

Dde undertook an environmental clean of affected internal rooms.

3. Bat and Barn Owl surveys were carried out pre-demolition. It was noted in the report that some areas of the building held a potential for roosting Bats.

Dde installed purpose-built bat boxes onto nearby trees, under a watching brief, to provide new roosting locations. Furthermore, fascia boarding was removed by hand.

Brief summary of the demolition works:

1. Removal of asbestos containing materials. Dde noted non-accessible areas within the report, and made allowances for surveying these areas as required during the works.

2. Soft strip and demolition of all structures including grubbing up all associated ground slabs, foundations, and redundant below ground drainage systems.

3. Breaking out hardstanding within site boundaries.

4. Suitable site won hardcore material was recycled to backfill voids and disrepairs.

Waste products were processed and removed from site for recycling wherever possible. Asbestos waste was taken to a licenced tipping facility. Aggregate arisings were crushed and recycled on site, with excess/ surplus taken to a local recycling yard for reuse within the construction industry. Bricks, roof tiles and timber floor boards were salvaged and taken to our reclamation yard. The recycling target achieved for this project was in excess of 95%.

Dust suppression was carried out using mister sprays aimed specifically at the local works areas. Noisy works were reduced to an acceptable decimal level by use of modern and noise dampened demolition rigs and equipment. Appropriate plant and equipment for the task was selected and the correct procedures were followed to ensure the plant was used effectively and efficiently.

Demolition was completed on time, within budget, and with no health and safety incidents.

The site was registered with Considerate Constructors’ Scheme achieving a rating of
‘Excellent’.

The client carried out a Health and Safety site inspection via an independent party – JNC Safety Services Ltd. There were no areas of concern identified in relation to the ongoing works at the time of the inspection. The report concluded as follows: “the site set up was excellent and very complimentary. All paperwork was complete and from a client perspective the site is compliant and meets the client’s health and safety requirements. Waste was also being segregated on site for recycling and removal which was good to see.”.

Date of Possession: 18th July 2022
Contract Completion date: 16th September 2022
Practical Completion date: 7th September 2022