Work to save abandoned renovation project following contractor’s collapse completes
Work to renovate a listed building in Birmingham, which came to a halt following the collapse of construction group Shaylor, has now been completed.
All renovations had come to a standstill on The Emporium project on Bartholomew Row after its originally signed contractor Shaylor collapsed into administration in June.
The building was granted approval to be restored and saved from demolition and the decision came to turn it into high spec student accommodation following the arrival of Birmingham City University, Eastside.
But with only four months to go until completion of the renovations, Shaylor collapsed and was unable to complete the project.
Leicestershire-based main contractor QDTS Construction had been involved in the project during the early days and had followed the story of ‘Saving Bartholomew Row’ from demolition.
The company offered to complete all works in a four month time frame.
Managing director Terry Benson said: “This really was an urgent situation. Completing The Emporium project was viewed by most as undoable, due to complications that came with the previous construction work it had already undergone. However, the urgency of this project to the community was felt by all of us at QDTS Construction and we are very proud to have had our part to play in restoring it. I am extremely grateful to all of our team who made the completion of this project possible.”
The Bartholomew Row buildings were constructed in the 18th century as terraced houses. Most recently, The Emporium was used as Christopher Wray’s Lighting Factory.
Simon Linford from Czero Developments said: “I am very grateful to the team at QDTS Construction for stepping in and finishing off the project. With the complications of this being an unfinished listed building job, and the pressure to finish in time for students to move in, I was unsure if anyone would be willing to take the project on. QDTS really saved the day and this was a great team effort.”
