Demolition consultant targets £1m turnover

THE regeneration of Wolverhampton city centre is proving a boon to business for one local firm.

C&D Consultancy, which is based in Penn, was appointed by Cawarden to advise on the form of demolition required in order for the redevelopment of the Mander Centre to continue.

It has since been retained by principal contractor Bowmer Kirkland to support it with the technical elements of the contract, which involves the demolition of the TJ Hughes building to make way for a new £35m Debenhams department store.

C&D, headed by John Woodward, has overseen the technical elements of the demolition, arranged site meetings and completed regular safety audits for the project site.

“We look after demolition projects all over the UK and Europe, but it is especially pleasing to be ‘clearing the past to create the future’ in our home city,” said Mr Woodward.

“It’s a fairly challenging contract in that the demolition involves a reinforced ‘pot’ floor, robotic demolition work and a structural propping scheme that avoids damaging the basement of the existing building.”

One of the challenging aspects of the scheme has been to ensure that the shopping centre remains open while the demolition work is completed.

The Mander Centre project is the latest in a long line of contract wins for C&D Consultancy, which is now on course to secure £1m turnover for the first time in its 13-year history.

Jobs already completed in the last twelve months include the Stanlow Refinery, Ferrybridge Power Station and a number of residential schemes in Glasgow.

It was also called in to tackle Seaforth in Liverpool after the initial explosives failed to bring down the two tower blocks.

Mr Woodward said such was the demand for the firm’s services that it had had to open offices in London, Merseyside and Scotland.

“The training side of the business has enjoyed similar success, delivering essential courses in health and safety, working at height and dealing with asbestos to more than 4,000 people,” he added.