Cut & Carve Demolition

BACKGROUND OF CUT & CARVE DEMOLITION

Cut and Carve demolition is combined with temporary works to demolish a structure in a controlled way, to retain and modify the existing structure for its future use, which can include the addition of floors.

There has been a marked increase in the number of schemes where cut and carve demolition methodologies are employed.

This is because planning, environmental and economic factors are increasing the number of construction and redevelopment projects which now retain an element of an existing structure as part of the scheme.

PLANNING CONSTRAINTS

The focus on sustainability in the granting of planning permission in construction projects makes the redevelopment of existing structures over demolition and a complete rebuild more enticing for developers.

BUILDING USE CHANGES

Changing commercial and consumer trends can often make the reason the original structure was constructed redundant.

Andun have worked on projects such as the Majestic in Leeds where a Victorian theatre was redeveloped into office space that includes TV studio space.

The pandemic has accelerated changing trends in retail and had a radical impact on the demand for office space in urban areas. This may fuel an increase in applications to change the use of structures, from office to residential usage.

This can include additional floors where there is enough structural redundancy as there was at Centrepoint, a project where Andun provided demolition engineering and temporary works design support.

CARBON REDUCTION

Another element driving the growth of cut and carve demolition is the focus on reducing the carbon footprint of projects.

The retention of all or part of the existing structure can create significant financial and carbon efficiencies for developers. Increasing the likelihood that future projects will where possible retain an element of the existing structure as part of the project.

CUT AND CARVE CPD WEBINAR

Our case study library features a number of cut and carve demolition projects where we have provided innovative and effective methodologies.

These include Birmingham New Street redevelopment which required innovative crane and lifting gear and a range of temporary works to facilitate demolition and redevelopment over one of the busiest railway stations in the country whilst it was still operating.

As well as Centrepoint redevelopment, which required significant demolition works 30 floors above central London, including falsework design, structural assessments and propping to support.