J Freeley Ltd, which has a Framework Agreement with Darlington Council, has been awarded the contract to clear the four acre site. Most of the demolition including the dismantling of the chimney will be undertaken mechanically using excavators fitted with a range of specialist demolition and materials handling attachments. During the first part of the project the council’s own direct labour teams will be removing significant amounts of asbestos from the buildings.

Michael Freeley, director of J Freeley Ltd, explained that recycling and environmental considerations will play an important part in the project. As well as the recovery of architectural features such as stone ans bricks for re-use, the company has set ambitious recycling targets for recycling the various waste streams generated by the demolition. These will be sorted mechanically using excavator-mounted materials-handling equipment.

All the masonry and concrete materials will be segregated and then crushed on site to produce recycled aggregate.  This on site production of aggregate is in accordance with latest WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) protocol. WRAP is a government-sponsored organisation and this protocol is designed to demonstrate that waste products are fully recovered to be subsequently re-used. The aggregate material will be used for filling basements and for levelling the cleared site.

All the timber generated from the demolition will be recycled at a state of the art recycling plant and then reused in a range of manufactured wood products.

“We have a long track record in recycling and minimising the environmental impact of building demolition,” said Michael Freeley.

“In this case our client, the Darlington Borough Council, was anxious that they met their environmental responsibilities and that we conform to the stringent WRAP protocols throughout the demolition contract.”

J Freeley Ltd has been recognised for its health and safety performance by winning a prestigious International Safety Award. The award was given by one of the world’s leading advocates of workplace health and safety, the British Safety Council, and is supported by the Health and Safety Executive.

The award acknowledges the commitment that J Freeley Ltd have made to improving corporate health and safety and rewards the success of achieving high safety standards. With over 600 applications from across the world, the win is a true testament to J Freeley Ltd’s dedication to the health and safety of its workforce.

Speaking of this year’s awards, Julie Nerney, British Safety Council chief executive, said: “This year we decided to raise the bar for the International Safety Awards and by doing so we have seen an exceptional standard of applications. I would like to congratulate all winners on this achievement and they should all be very proud. It is great to have such dedicated organisations with us on the journey towards excellent health and safety standards.”

Ambitious plans to create a £450 million world class hospital on the site of the present Royal Liverpool University Hospital have moved another step closer following the completion of a major demolition and civil engineering project. It was carried out by demolition specialists J Freeley Ltd.

The contract, carried out over a five month period, involved asbestos removal then the demolition of three redundant operating theatre blocks. After that, J Freeley constructed a link road connecting the two main arterial traffic routes within the hospital site.

In addition to the demolition and road construction, the contract included excavations, drainage, installation of lighting and hard and soft landscaping.

The Trust’s project coordinator explained that a key factor in the success of the project was to minimise disruption and hazard to nearby sensitive hospital facilities.

She said: “The demolition work took place close to the critical care section of the Liverpool Heart and Chest Trust. Patients there are being treated for immuno suppression disorders, so it was vital that any dust generated in the demolition process was effectively damped down to prevent it becoming a hazard for these patients.

“In addition, noise levels had to be kept to a minimum to prevent nuisance to these patients and also to staff working close by in a pharmacy department office block.

“Careful planning between J Freeley and the hospital authorities and skilful execution by J Freeley ensured that the hazards of dust and noise were stringently controlled.”

Using Government WRAP methodology, the hospital authorities must achieve targets set for the use of recycled materials and a reduction of construction waste, in both the demolition and construction phases of the project.

To help meet sustainability targets which included using recycled materials in construction, the 4,000 tonnes of hardcore and concrete generated by the demolition was processed into a recycled aggregate on site by J Freeley. This was then used on for levelling the site and to provide a sub-base for the new road.

The leisure centre was a well known building in the area and its demolition marks the start of a new chapter for Stockbridge Village. The redevelopment of the village centre will not only include the creation of a new primary school but also a new swimming pool, state-of-the-art gym and leisure facilities, learning resource centre, police access point, multi-use games area (MUGA) and a supermarket.

The leisure centre’s design and imposing ‘mast’ meant that the demolition had to be carefully planned. As part of the roof loading was supported from the central mast, the dismantling had to be undertaken in a precise sequence to avoid any premature collapse of the structure during demolition.

J Freeley Ltd worked closely with specialist civil and structural engineers Thomasons at the planning stage to agree a carefully prepared sequence of demolition. As well as dismantling the building, J Freeley Ltd also removed the substantial foundations, substructures and cellars of the building.

J Freeley Ltd were appointed by Knowsley Council to carry out the project following a competitive tender.

The project was overseen on behalf of Knowsley Council by Mohammed Altaf, project manager of 2020 Knowsley Ltd which provides design and management services to the council.

He explained that environmental considerations and minimum disruption to residents surrounding the site were the two concerns that drove the demolition project forward.

“Knowsley Council has a strong reputation for maintaining and improving its environmental performance and it was important this was reflected in this demolition contract. The recycling aspects of the contract were an important part of the tendering process.

“More than 6,000 tonnes of concrete and masonry was generated during the demolition. This was crushed and processed on site to produce recycled aggregate which was then used for filling the underground voids and foundation spaces and to prepare the site for redevelopment. This significantly reduced the amount of construction traffic that would have been needed to take this material off site. It also meant that construction vehicle movements will be minimised when the redevelopment work takes place.”

A documentary film is being made for the Liverpool City Council to document the project, and recently J Freeley specialists were filmed in action. Later, DVDs including this footage will be produced and sent to all residents in the neighbourhood renewal areas to inform them on the progress of the scheme. The DVDs will also be used to brief external partners and stakeholders in support of the publication of the annual report.

J Freeley Ltd has passed the National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) Accredited Site Audit Scheme. It follows a comprehensive audit and inspection recently carried out by the NFDC that encompassed J Freeley’s management systems and onsite procedures.

The audit scheme is designed to give clients the comfort that they are dealing with a NFDC member that is a leader in its field who follows best practice; one that has been vetted, checked and verified; and one that employs trained, carded and competent operatives.

Only demolition contractors who consistently show the highest standards in terms of health and safety, strength of office and site management, and quality of work successfully pass this external and independent audit.

Said J Freeley Managing Director John Freeley: “Membership of NFDC signifies that a demolition contractor has undergone a thorough and robust vetting process to initially gain membership. The Accredited Site Audit Scheme ensures that the member continues to deliver the highest quality standards expected by clients.”

The next stage in the comprehensive regeneration of the King Street area in Bolton town centre has been completed with the demolition of the disused Sorting Office by Manchester demolition specialists J Freeley Ltd.

In what was a complex and meticulous operation, removal of asbestos from the building was followed by careful dismantling by machine. The Sorting Office adjoined the existing Post Office and was also bounded by a BT building. Its proximity to the operational Post Office meant that working hours on the site were severely restricted to minimise any disruption.

The presence of fibre optic cables underneath the building meant that J Freeley operatives had to carry out controlled and restricted working methods. Following demolition, extensive excavation work took place due to the elevated position of the site.

The project finished with J Freeley carrying out building work, cladding and weatherproofing to the existing retained building on the site.

Bolton Council has earmarked the King Street area for high quality development that will have a positive impact on the planned regeneration of the town centre. Now that demolition has taken place, the area will be redeveloped once commercial property market conditions improve, says J Freeley. In the meantime, the site will be used for car parking.

Said J Freeley Ltd managing director John Freeley: “This was a large and complex project that required meticulous planning and controlled demolition and excavation, which is why we correctly estimated it would take the full four months to complete successfully.

“We are increasingly being employed by developers to clear sites for future redevelopment. In some cases the owners want to avoid paying high business rates on empty buildings and so choose demolition. In other cases, developers want the site ready for immediate rebuilding once there is an upturn in the property market.”

Manchester demolition experts J Freeley Ltd are working closely with regeneration specialists on the clearance of large areas of the Langley area of Middleton in Lancashire. This is in preparation for extensive housing redevelopment when economic conditions start to improve.

In the latest phase of the scheme, J Freeley Ltd demolished the eyesore Rothay Drive apartment blocks in a three week contract, on behalf of Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal (HMR).

The demolition was carried out by machine and more than 3,000 tonnes of brick and concrete were removed for subsequent recycling into hardcore for road foundations.

Under the estate’s multi-million pound Housing Market Renewal programme the aim is to demolish around 100 properties to make way for 500 new homes and to undertake significant landscaping work. Oldham Rochdale HMR has a policy of buying properties and clearing sites during the recession so that it can make rapid progress with redevelopment once the economic climate improves.

The Audit Commission recently praised the work of the Oldham Rochdale HMR scheme so far and acknowledged the vital role that the HMR is playing in transforming the Langley estate. The Commission added that because of the recession, the HMR team needed to continue to take an expansive view of regeneration as a means to improve the economic and social make-up of Langley.

John Freeley, managing director of J Freeley Ltd, said: “We were given a tight three week timeframe in which to complete the demolition of the three blocks of flats to minimise any disruption to nearby residents. In fact, the residents welcomed the removal of the buildings which had become an eyesore and was subject to vandalism.”

Vacant areas of a retail park in the town centre of Rochdale have been demolished by Manchester demolition specialists J Freeley Ltd. This followed the closure of two superstores on the site which closed due to the recession. The land owners were faced with having to pay large business rates bills if the buildings remained unoccupied, and so they appointed J Freeley to demolish them.

The project involved the clearance of 80,000 ft² of retail space, comprising the disused MFI and Focus DIY superstores. As part of the contract, J Freeeley also demolished other buildings on the site formerly occupied by a veterinary practice and the Samaritans.

The six week demolition project began with the controlled removal of large quantities of asbestos from the building. J Freeley worked closely with Rochdale Council on health and safety aspects of the demolition: in particular ensuring the safety of pedestrians and vehicles on part of the site fronting onto Oldham Road.

There was a strong emphasis on sustainability during the project, with the various waste streams – including 3,000 tonnes of hardcore and concrete, metals, plastics and timber – all segregated and recycled.

Following the demolition, J Freeley carried out landscaping, boundary treatment and fencing, leaving the site ready for future redevelopment.

Said J Freeley managing director John Freeley: “This was a case where the two superstores fell victim to the recession and closed.

“The landowners were faced with a potentially massive business rates bill if the buildings remained unoccupied, and so they chose to demolish them. They plan to redevelop the site once the economy improves.”

Our long track record in successfully working in partnership with local authorities helped us secure this important agreement .

“We are proud to be working in conjunction with 2020 Liverpool in the regeneration of Liverpool.  This framework agreement continues our strong track record of successfully partnering with local authorities carrying out valuable regeneration work across the North West region.”

John Freeley, Managing Director J Freeley Ltd