J Freeley has completed a large-scale demolition for Wirral Council paving the way for regeneration within the area around Wallasey Town Hall.
Completed on time and budget, the project saw J Freeley demolish the north and south annexes situated either side of the town hall in Brighton Street.
With homes, a leisure centre, and primary school within close proximity, the phased demolition required dust suppression and noise monitoring throughout. Part of the north annexe, which was located adjacent to occupied homes, was carefully deconstructed floor by floor using robotic excavators. From the outset, a pedestrian diversion route was also created with associated traffic management.
Following the demolition, J Freeley landscaped and fenced off the site ready for future development, which will see new homes constructed.
Michael Freeley, Director at J Freeley, commented: “This was a complex project that required a very carefully controlled demolition. Understandably, there were concerns about the potential risks of demolishing tall buildings within a site located on a main road and close to people’s homes and other public buildings. These were all alleviated through stringent planning, including measures that successfully minimised disruption and optimised health and safety.
“There were no complaints from local residents, and we are pleased to report positive feedback from the client, members of the design team, and the public.”
Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Paul Stuart, said: “Demolition of these annexes was long overdue and I’m pleased to see it has been done on time, to budget and with as little impact on surrounding properties as possible. These sites are a key element in developing the Town Hall Quarter area and the wider Seacombe corridor, as well as helping in delivering the much needed new homes.”
As part of its commitment to supporting local communities, J. Freeley donated to several charities while on site, including Mid Wirral Crime Prevention Panel’s Friday Night Football, homeless charity Wirral Ark, and Wirral’s Homeless Angels, a community group supplying home cooked meals and support.
Team members also visited Riverside Primary School in Wallasey to talk to the nursery children about demolition, with a focus on health and safety. After the chance to play with some model excavators and a miniature HGV, the children were walked to the Wallasey demolition site so they could see the work in progress and ask questions.
The demolition of the annexes, which have been vacant since 2020, has been funded by the Government’s Brownfield Land Release fund.
