Copthorne Barracks demolition in the heart of Shrewsbury clears the way for a new housing development scheme at the historic location.

Copthorne Barracks was a British Army military installation in Copthorne, Shrewsbury. The barracks were built between 1877 and 1881 and were utilised as an army barracks since 1888, to its closure in 2015.

Working as the Principal Contractor on behalf of the residential property developer, Bellway, Cawarden was employed to carry out the asbestos removal, soft strip, demolition and site clearance of the former Copthorne Barracks site which sprawled across 14-acres. The 19th century ‘Keep’ was to be retained for later conversion into apartments.

The site included forty buildings and structures previously used by the MoD. The buildings and structures were soft stripped and mechanically demolished along with all floor slabs and foundations. More than 300,000 bricks, large amounts of slates and timber were reclaimed and recycled.

Upon completion of the demolition, the site was graded in readiness for the next phase of development. The works were completed ahead of programme.

Known as Copthorne Keep, the new housing development enjoys a historic location on the site of the former Copthorne Barracks.