CASE STUDY 4
Client
Railway Pension Nominees Limited
Project type
Regeneration
Building type
Betjeman House (five-storey, former BBC Cambridgeshire)
Ortona House (three-storey office block)
Francis House (three-storey office block)
Multi-storey car park
Value of project
£800k
Timescale of project
10 months
Client Testimonial
“The team at TRD exceeded our expectations in every aspect of the project. Their innovative waste management strategies and dedication to environmental protection were key to the continued project’s successes.”
Andrew Boyle, Construction Director, Socius Developments
SUMMARY OF PROJECT
Our works involved:
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Covering 1.07 hectares and sitting immediately adjacent to the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens the site contained Betjeman House (5 storey, former BBC Cambridgeshire); Ortona House (3 storey office block); Francis House (3 storey office block)
and multi-storey car park. -
Appointment of TRD Demolition Design Team (DDT) including four Demolition Engineers, two Health and Safety Managers (NEBOSH), one CSCS/CCDO Site Manager, one CSCS/CCDO Site Supervisor, and 100% CSCS CSCS-CCDO/CPCS Site personnel.
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Preplanning and allocation of adequate resources to meet required sequenced programme;
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Appointment of supervisory team to control multiple working zones;
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State-of-the-art demolition machinery, including semi-high reach and nornal demolition rigs with specialist attachments for precision demolition;
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Implemented stringent environmental controls, including containment scaffolding & hoarding, dust suppression and noise monitoring, ensuring full protection to the flora and fauna and no disruption to the gardens and their users;
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TRD’s in-house mobile crusher unit utilised, reducing the need for waste transportation and minimising carbon footprint;
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All personnel equipped with the latest PPE, with regular safety briefings conducted to maintain high safety standards
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Eco welfare facilities including solar, PIR, thermostatic heating, self-closing doors, and dry urinals
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Strip out of all structures prior to demolition;
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Demolition of structures by both hand and mechanical means;
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Sub-structure removal works down to specified levels;
Our specialist capabilities:
Asbestos removal, soft strip, waste diversion, hand and mechanical demolition, sub-structure removal and site remediation, protection of the adjacent Cambridge University Botanic Gardens and historic Flying Pig pub.
Future Use
The scheme will provide 300,000 sq ft of office space and will be a first for the city of Cambridge by achieving BREEAM “Outstanding”. It will also provide zero-emission, all-electric, naturally ventilated, water and energy-efficient adaptable workspaces that are fit for the future.
The extensive public realm benefits include a pub, a café, and a restaurant at ground floor level, extensive landscaping, and a new public square with views of the Cambridge Botanic Garden.
Planning
Stringent attention to environmental, planning conditions, stakeholder considerations, waste diversion and safe demolition methodologies were instrumental when designing the scheme, to ensure that the Clients goal of BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ was achievable. TRD’s in-house Demolition Design Team (DTT) was instrumental in achieving approved project design, documentation production, programming and resource assignment.
Registered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) and achieved an ‘Excellent’ performance level rating. Engaged closely with stakeholders to minimise disturbance, installed full public protection to all site boundaries. No complaints received throughout the project.
Established dedicated access routes and permitted timings for demolition traffic and launched an awareness campaign for cyclists, ensuring safety and minimising traffic disruptions. Maintained cycle parking to minimise disruption to surrounding facilities.
Delivery
We allocated both a CCDO Demolition Site Manager and Site Supervisor, supported by top-tier management to control the delivery of the works with works sequences agreed taking into account the various locality and stakeholder restrictions.
Sequencing involved securing the site with hoarding, installation of protective demolition spec scaffolding to enable safe demolition operations abutting the Botanic Gardens boundaries and surrounding highways, asbestos removal operation, demolition by hand and mechanical techniques, including semi-high reach operations and a major sub-structure removal and crushing phase.
Waste Management and Sustainability
Pre-Demolition Audit: We conducted a detailed pre-demolition waste audit to identify materials for recovery, reuse, and recycling which was fed into and monitored against BREEAM report.
Recycling and Reuse:
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Computer Flooring: Reused in a London refurbishment project.
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Bicycle Store: Donated to a local church.
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Carpet Tiles: Sold for reuse.
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Kitchen and Bathroom Fixtures: Donated to a TRD employee for use in their first home.
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Windows and Brickwork: Removed by hand and preserved for reuse in the new-build phase.
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Crushed Arisings: Clean, inert materials were crushed on-site according to WRAP protocol for reuse within the new scheme.
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Waste Statistics: 98% of waste was reclaimed/reused/recycled, contributing to the project’s sustainability goals.
Health, Safety and Environmental Management
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Safety Record: Maintained an exemplary safety record throughout the project, with zero reportable incidents. In-house and external health, safety and environmental audits carried out to ensure compliance;
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Environmental Monitoring: Employed real-time dust and noise monitoring equipment to ensure compliance with environmental standards.
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Asbestos Removal: All asbestos removal was carried out in accordance with HSE guidelines, with timely notifications and approvals.
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Site Security: Implemented 24/7 site security measures, including physical security personnel and CCTV, to safeguard the site and surrounding areas.
Read more about the Botanic Place regeneration project here.