Cawarden was appointed by Readie Construction, the main contractor, to carry out the complex and extensive demolition and dismantling of two industrial buildings at the former Bison concrete manufacturing site.

We used state-of-the-art equipment, technical expertise, and years of experience to complete the strip-out. This involved removing many items of industrial plant, such as cranes and hoppers, which were transported to other manufacturing sites to be used for many more years to come.

Local labour and an extensive army of specialist demolition machines tackled the main work which involved the structural demolition of the largest (18,310sqm) of the two industrial buildings. All the materials, including thousands of tonnes of steel, were sent for recycling.

In fact, staying true to our commitment to the environment, nearly 100% of all materials were either reused or recycled. All our demolition machines were powered by Green D+ HVO, a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to diesel.

The smaller building (4,665 sqm) and its giant gantries were carefully dismantled and relocated to be reused at another industrial site within the county.

All this helped to reduce vehicle movements in the area, deliver the principles of the circular economy, reduce waste, and achieve meaningful carbon reduction.

Following the demolition and dismantling works, we began breaking out the hardstandings, foundations, and substructures down to a depth of three meters.

After raising all the hard-core, it was processed on-site and stockpiled for later reuse by the client. This process involved testing, grading, and chemical screening in line with WRAP Protocol.

The existing office block on the site remained, and we assisted with the renovation works by undertaking a full strip-out back to the bare bones, including a number of walls that needed to be removed. We installed structural elements to help with the removal of the internal walls as well.

We carried out the works in phases and handed back areas to the client so that follow-on contractors could immediately begin construction in line with the tight programme. This involved working alongside multiple trades on-site.

Our work ensured that the site was expertly prepared and construction-ready to pave the way for one of the largest employment sites in the area while breathing new life into the brownfield site!