Appointed by the client, Lincoln MGT, McGee has embarked on its latest demolition project to help deliver a major transformation project at Station Hill in Reading, Berkshire.
The works to demolish a series of large empty buildings of various ages and build styles will clear the way for a major housing and retail development at the start of the Crossrail line.
Worth circa £3.5m this is another major contract win for McGee.
The buildings due for demolition include Xafinity House, a six-storey 1980s office building, Telecoms House, a six-storey office building which has retail units on the ground floor of Friar Street extending back five storeys to a further six-storey block on Garrard Street, an NCP Car Park, and the sometime derelict Friars Walk Shopping Centre.
McGee arrived on site in March 2019 to begin site establishment and preparatory works.
Following the installation of the perimeter demolition scaffolds, completion of soft strip including hazardous materials, the structural demolition of the buildings down to the ground floor slab are now being carried out.
Hard demolition works of Telecoms House commenced in May.
The demolition works will be undertaken utilising a combination of methods delivered by McGee’s highly skilled site team. These methods have been chosen to minimise the impact of the works on the adjacent neighbouring buildings.
As an award-winning considerate constructor, environmental considerations are a priority for McGee; therefore, daily monitoring of vibration, dust and noise will be undertaken.
Supported by its own in-house resources, McGee will clear all materials from the site with close to 98% of waste diverted from landfill during the demolition works.
McGee’s own expert design teams have designed all temporary works to ensure structural stability and protection of all party walls.
McGee expects to complete its work over a 20-week programme.
Nick Taylor, Demolition Director, said:
“We are thrilled to get this opportunity to work on this prestigious development and one where we hope we can bring the full benefits of our integrated offering in order to provide our client with best value for the overall project whilst taking advantage of the excellent start made by the demolition team.”
Once delivered, Station Hill will provide substantial investment in new public spaces, landscaping, and greatly improving pedestrian accessibility, the mixed-use scheme will support the economic and housing need of Reading, by fusing residential, office, leisure and retail uses around open community space and enhanced public realm.