All Saints Catholic High School Demolition & Asbestos Removal
As part of the Department for Education’s School Rebuilding Programme, All Saints was selected to benefit from a new, multi-million-pound school facility, providing a modern learning environment for pupils and staff. Following completion of the new school building, the school successfully relocated, allowing the existing school buildings to become available for the next phase of the development.
Bradley was appointed to undertake the asbestos removal and demolition of the existing school buildings, preparing the site for its future use. The works required careful pre-planning and coordination to ensure the site could be safely transitioned from an operational school environment to a controlled demolition site.
Scope of Works:
- Extensive asbestos removal
- Enabling works – tree management and tank cleaning
- Splitting of school structure from sports gym
- Mechanical demolition
- Asset Protection
- Removal of slabs and foundations
- Crushing and stockpiling on site
Extensive Asbestos Removal
Following the completion of a comprehensive Refurbishment and Demolition Asbestos Survey, asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were identified throughout the existing school buildings. An extensive asbestos removal programme was required prior to the commencement of the main demolition works.
The asbestos removal works were carefully planned and undertaken over a 16 week period, with the programme developed to ensure all identified ACMs were safely removed and the buildings could be handed over for subsequent demolition activities. The works involved establishing appropriate controlled areas, implementing suitable containment and air monitoring measures and ensuring all removal activities were undertaken in accordance with the approved plan of work and relevant legislation.
Close Proximity Working
The main demolition works were carefully planned, coordinated and executed within close proximity to the newly constructed school, creating a number of additional logistical and safety considerations. With pupils, teachers, staff and school vehicle movements continuing throughout the project, maintaining a safe separation between the demolition activities and the operational school environment was a key priority.
Bradley implemented robust segregation and exclusion zones around the demolition area, with controlled access and clearly defined vehicle and pedestrian routes. The movement of demolition plant, HGVs and deliveries was carefully coordinated to minimise interaction with school traffic and reduce the potential for disruption.
Frequent coordination with the client and school management team ensured that demolition activities were planned around key school movements and operational requirements.
Asset Protection
As part of the demolition works, Bradley was asked to investigate the possibility of retaining a significant school mosaic that was fixed directly to the brickwork of the former school buildings. Recognising the sentimental value of the artwork to the school, Bradley worked with the project team to develop a suitable method for its careful removal and preservation.
A detailed assessment was undertaken to understand the condition, stability and fixing arrangement of the mosaic, as well as the surrounding brickwork. Due to the delicate nature of the artwork and the requirement to prevent cracking, movement or damage during removal, a bespoke temporary works solution was developed and installed to provide adequate support throughout the process. Specialist lifting and handling techniques were then used to safely transfer the retained section into a purpose-built timber support frame, providing protection and stability during storage and transportation.
The completed removal allowed the mosaic to be preserved rather than lost through demolition, enabling the school to retain an important piece of its history and providing an opportunity for the artwork to be incorporated and repurposed within the new school development.
Enabling Works
Alongside the main activities, Bradley was also required to undertake a number of minor enabling works to support the client and ensure the overall project programme remained on track.
These works included the pruning and management of existing trees to provide sufficient clearance for HGV access to and from the site. The works were carefully coordinated to minimise disruption and ensure safe access was maintained for construction traffic.
Bradley also undertook the removal and cleaning of existing fuel oil from basement storage tanks within the former school buildings. This required careful planning and appropriate controls to safely isolate, remove and manage the remaining fuel, with the tanks subsequently cleaned and left in a suitable condition for the next phase of works.
