Cawarden starts next stage at Debenhams

United Kingdom-based contractor Cawarden has begun the structural demolition of the former Debenhams building this week to clear the way for a £200 million (US$280 million) regeneration in the city of Derby, in the English midlands.

Cawarden is working on behalf of Derby City Council as principal contractor for the project.

In recent weeks, Cawarden’s site team has been completing the first phase of the works, which has involved stripping the interior – including floors and ceilings to be recycled.

The company has also erected the external scaffold, which has since been covered in plastic sheeting.

The next phase of works involves the structural deconstruction and demolition of the building.

To faciliate the works, various items of plant and machinery has been moving in via crane this week.

In the past 12 months, Cawarden has invested more than £2 million (US$2.8 million) in its in-house fleet of industry-leading plant and machinery, including two demolition machines used for the first time on the former retail premises.

All materials removed from will be reused and diverted from landfill where possible, with a recycling target of 95% of non-hazardous waste.

“This is a site with significant space constraints,” said contracts manager Oliver Crooks.

“The project has taken a great deal of planning and coordination with Derby City Council and other stakeholders to get things to where we could complete all required planning stages and agree the logistics for the project, and finally commence the structural demolition. We have been involved with Derby City Council in this planning process from an early stage and this is a great example of early engagement between client and contractor.”