The site was a Former Spectrum for Arcadia Group warehouse distribution centre and offices based in Milton Keynes. The site was fully operational until late 2020 when Arcadia Group went into administration. Trammell Crow then bought the land and made the site their first acquisition in Europe. Squibb Group won the tender and were appointed to demolish the site, ready for the main contractor to undertake works to construct three new warehouses on the site. Works undertaken by Squibb Group included:
- Asbestos removal
- Soft strip activities
- Demolition of above ground structures
- Removal of ground slab and foundations down to 2 – 4 metres deep
- Removal of hard standings
- Crushing of demolition arisings to Type 1 and 6F2
- Tree and vegetation removal
- Levels surveys
Challenges Faced
- Tree removal
- Working closely to underground live services
- Working closely to a National Railway line
How we overcome this
As there were preservation orders on the trees around the perimeter, we first erected tree protection fencing around all trees covered under the TPO. Once this was erected the trees and stumps were removed using an excavator equipped with tree shearing and grinding attachments.
Areas were surveyed using CAT scanning equipment and services drawings were reviewed before the ground was penetrated.
No work was permitted to be undertaken within less than 10 metres of the railway line boundary fencing without a permit from National Rail. All lightweight materials were secured to ensure no debris did not blow onto the train line.
