This project in the centre of Wakefield involved the demolition of a multi-storey precast concrete car park. This included asbestos removal, excavation, and construction of a new surface level car park.

The building was demolished principally by explosive means, but a lift shaft and stairwell were dismantled using a high reach excavator beforehand, to remove the risk of outward collapse onto nearby structures (including an HV substation which was completely unaffected by our works despite being only 2m away from the multi-storey structure). We also protected a commemorative statue, listed terraced houses occupied by both commercial and residential occupants, and a listed structure with historic stained glass windows.

We managed the road closure operation and evacuation within the exclusion zone, and successfully protected the surroundings, as well as handling the full clean-up operation. A last minute road closure was required when the structural engineer discovered the eastern stairwell would need to be mechanically demolished prior to the blowdown to prevent it from falling outward, we successfully organised despite clashes within the road closure booking system due to maintenance works.

We used a delay sequence on the explosives to induce an inward collapse, assisted by a complex roping system which further encouraged no outward spillage. The surrounding buildings included listed buildings and the local police headquarters containing sensitive computer/data systems, all of which remained undisturbed by our works. The works were completed by constructing a surface level car park.