Millharbour

Following a competitive tender Clifford Devlin were appointed to carry out an enabling works package in London Docklands. The works consisted of the demolition of two low-rise former residential blocks to make way for a high-rise development featuring two 30-storey and 26-storey apartment blocks of 319 dwellings.

The site was secured with 2.4m plywood hoardings with vehicular gates installed and the buildings were fully scaffolded on all elevations and clad in monarflex sheeting. Soft strip consisted of the removal of non-structural elements including partitions, floor coverings, doors and frames, M&E plant and pipework, furniture and fixtures and fittings.

The brickwork facades were manually de-clad and the roof removed by operatives working from the scaffold. Structural demolition was carried out using mini-excavators with the building supported by a temporary back-propping scheme then a 30-tonne excavator fitted with pulveriser attachment working progressively through the building on a bay-by-bay basis along the span of the slabs. Following this the ground floor slab and foundations were broken-up and removed, voids backfilled and the site levelled.

The site was bounded on all sides by occupied commercial buildings so strict environmental controls were in place to reduce disruption. Our project team visited all the neighbouring properties to introduce ourselves, explain the works and discuss ways in which to reduce disturbance. Contact details of our Site Manager were circulated and a newsletter updating them on progress was distributed during the works.

Emissions of dust were suppressed by the scaffold covering and use of water spray machines with PM10 monitoring carried out throughout to ensure we kept within agreed air quality limits. A traffic management plan was prepared and submitted to the Local Authority documenting our measures to reduce disruption to the local transport system and maintain safety including use of traffic marshalls, driver induction, a micromanaged delivery schedule and use of wheel-wash facilities.

Wastes were segregated on-site into individual materials steams and removed to local materials recycling facilities for processing. In the absence of any asbestos or other hazardous materials we diverted all wastes from landfill with 99% either re-used or recycled.

Testimonial:

“We really appreciated the flexible, collaborative approach that Clifford Devlin brought to the Phase 1 demolition and enabling works at Millharbour, Canary Wharf, London. Their site team, particularly Alex Deysell, were professional and particularly helpful in formulating ways to support construction delivery to meet programme in the face of project challenges ultimately outside of their control.”
Craig Ward, Principal - Project Management, Avison Young