DEMOLITION work has started on a 50-year-old science block at Runcorn’s Heath Business and Technical Park.
The three-storey Block 7 at the park is being demolished to make way for the development of up to 180,000 sq ft of additional office and laboratory space.
As many as 25 workers have been on site each day since last July, stripping out more than 50,000 sq ft of accommodation in the old building.
The redevelopment will see the workforce at The Heath increase from 2,000 to 3,000 over the next few years.
Work on the demolition is expected to last for a further six weeks.
Helen Schoelzel, SOG’s safety, health and environment manager, said: “Having started to clear the building last July, it’s great to now move on to the main demolition phase.
“We’ve had to contend with some terrible weather during the process but with everything on schedule we would expect the site to be cleared, levelled and ready for turfing next month.”
Ms Schoelzel is SOG’s project manager and has overseen and co-ordinated the demolition process.
As part of the demolition, the team has also had to deal with routine removal of chemical and asbestos hazards – posing no risk to the public.
The Heath served as a headquarters for chemicals giant ICI until its rebirth as a business and technical park.
Ms Schoelzel has personally provided specialist chemical hazard training to around 40 men from asbestos removal contractor EDS, whose personnel have played a key part in the process.
Adrian Kelly, managing director of Windmill Group (UK), which has provided personnel for the project, said: “The operation has been high risk and proved to be a challenge, but good communication, programming and team management have been the key to the success we have achieved.”
In recent years, Block 7 has served as part of The Heath’s research and technology department, acting as home to as many as 10 of the 175 diverse companies and organisations now based on site.
The Block’s residents were relocated elsewhere on The Heath ahead of the demolition process.
