Freeley successfully completed multiple demolition projects and civil engineering projects for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
The works included the demolition of:
D8 Boiler House
Ante-Natal Department
Infectious Diseases Building
Doctors’ Residence Building & Gym
Operating within a live hospital environment, each building required careful sequencing, full site enclosure, asbestos coordination, structural demolition down to slab level, basement and foundation removal, and controlled backfilling using selected demolition arisings. Sites were left cleared, levelled, and prepared for the next phase of development.
Following demolition, Freeley delivered the construction of a new Bellmouth Road, a significant civil engineering project designed to improve site access and support the hospital’s ongoing transformation.
Working within an operational NHS hospital presented complex logistical and safety challenges. Our measures included:
Weekend site set-up and programmed HGV movements to minimise disruption
Strict traffic management aligned with hospital routes and peak times
Coordination with the Trust’s asbestos removal contractor
Management of Japanese Knotweed within the site boundary
Use of pre-filled 10,000-litre water tanks for dust suppression, avoiding reliance on the hospital’s water supply
Close stakeholder collaboration and detailed programme management ensured uninterrupted hospital operations throughout.
This large-scale programme demonstrated Freeley’s capability to deliver complex, multi-phase demolition and major civils works within live healthcare environments. Key challenges included working around live hospital operations, asbestos, and Japanese Knotweed. Freeley mitigated these by scheduling site setup and deliveries at weekends, coordinating asbestos removal with the Trust’s contractor, and using pre-filled water tanks for dust suppression.
Lessons learned from previous hospital projects ensured smooth traffic management, strong stakeholder engagement, and minimal disruption. The project was delivered safely, efficiently, and in line with ISO 9001 and NFDC-accredited quality standards.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
