DEMOLITION OF CAR PARK IN READING

Reading Borough Council together with Amec Developments have a master plan to redevelop the Chatham Street area of Reading.

A five storey 2,000 space car park with an associated shopping area and former nightclub occupied the majority of the site all of which had been closed for some time.
The site and buildings became subject to increasing levels of vandalism and general anti social behaviour. The Council therefore decided to demolish the car park earlier than was intended.

Hughes & Salvidge were awarded the £700k contract to carry out the extensive asbestos removal and subsequent demolition of the structures. The sub-base was then prepared for a temporary surface car park while the designs for the new development were being further developed. The works also involved the demolition of an access bridge over a dual carriageway that formed the entrance into the car park. This work was carried out during an agreed road possession period.

The whole project produced some 30,000 tonnes of concrete, all of which was removed to a recycling centre, over 90% of all materials being recycled.