Despite ongoing volatility in the wider construction market, the demolition industry remained resilient throughout 2025. Regulatory change, regeneration-led projects and a growing demand for our services across the public sector have shaped the past 12 months, culminating in another year of growth for Freeley.
Heading in the right direction
One of the most significant regulatory developments came in February 2025, with the enforcement of the Procurement Act. Increasing the focus on higher standards, performance, and social value, the legislation is a positive step forward for both demolition and public sector procurement.
At tender stage, there is now a greater emphasis on how our work will be delivered rather than just cost. This shift is a welcome change, eliminating the race to the bottom and allowing for much fairer comparisons when selecting suppliers. We have also seen a clear rise in quality scoring based on methodologies and proven experience, a trend we fully support.
The Government’s recent decision to drop major landfill tax reforms was another welcome development. Following strong opposition from the construction sector, the two rates of landfill tax will no longer merge. This avoids a significant cost increase for inert waste disposal, helping the sector to plan projects more effectively and protect margins.
Delivering lasting impact
As a business, we evolved early in the year, unveiling a new brand identity in March 2025. After more than 40 years in demolition and civil engineering, we refreshed our logo and strapline to honour our heritage and reinforce our key strengths.
Aligning with our commitment to go above and beyond, we completed several large demolition projects for local authorities, receiving excellent feedback from clients and other stakeholders.
Highlights included the successful clearance of several buildings in Liscard, Wirral, kickstarting the town’s £12 million regeneration; the removal of a derelict high school in Stockport, Greater Manchester, three and a half weeks ahead of schedule; and the demolition of multiple properties in New Ferry, Wirral, to make way for affordable homes.
Building on our proven track record in the healthcare sector, we ended 2025 delivering the final phase of demolition works of Alder Hey’s old hospital. This contract followed extensive demolition projects at North Manchester General Hospital and RAAC removal for four North West hospitals.
Navigating challenges
Looking ahead, our industry continues to face the challenge of an aging workforce and attracting younger people. Addressing this will require a stronger focus on promoting the benefits of working in demolition.
For those who do not want to go to university, learning a trade is a strong alternative. Demolition offers a varied, well-paid career with job security and clear progression for those willing to work hard. Structured pathways such as the National Demolition Training Group (NDTG) card scheme and membership with the Institute of Demolition Engineers support career development.
Further work is also needed to help educate organisations on the benefits of appointing NFDC members for demolition projects of all types and sizes.
We received several comments this year from clients who were surprised at how smoothly their demolition projects ran. Whether these views stem from misconceptions about demolition or bad experiences, they highlight the importance of appointing skilled, competent contractors.
Selecting an NFDC member ensures the contractor meets rigorous standards, including industry-recognised workforce training and environmentally responsible practices. These credentials are vital to deliver high-quality projects while minimising risk.
Collectively, our industry must continue to promote the value of using NFDC members and build on successful initiatives such as the NFDC Talks on intelligent demolition planning, which have made a significant contribution towards achieving this goal.
Looking ahead
At Freeley, we are looking forward to building on our growth in the year ahead, with a strong pipeline and a new website due to launch in early 2026. We remain committed to delivering safe, responsible and high-quality demolition services, raising standards, and making a positive contribution to both our industry and the wider construction sector.
