A brownfield site, consisting of light industrial units (previously occupied by Palfinger UK), office blocks and a filling station – Cawarden delivered the asbestos removal, demolition and removal of all hardstandings and foundations. The project was completed in March and has paved the way for new homes to be built for first-time buyers and families.

Working as the Principal Contractor for Derby City Council, the structural demolition works commenced in March on Derby’s former Debenhams building to clear the way for a 200 million-pound scheme to regenerate the Becketwell area. The site was formally handed back to the client in mid-August and marked a key milestone for the regeneration of the site. The project was a great opportunity for Cawarden to showcase its demolition expertise working on a large City centre site.

Earlier in the year, Cawarden was appointed as Principal Contractor to deliver the restoration works of the former Creswell Colliery site in Derbyshire. The restoration of the former colliery lagoons and settlement ponds will deliver agriculture, nature conservation and reduce the Health & Safety risks – whilst contributing to the attractiveness of the area and the availability of the countryside to local residents. The project involves importing materials into Cawarden’s Soil Processing Facility then reusing these soil-forming materials over three years to restore the site. Over 300,000 tonnes will be processed to complete the project.

The multi-phased project has seen Cawarden deliver a complex integrated solution – including demolition, land remediation, earthworks and civils and construction services. This has allowed the 13.5-acre site and over 100,000 cubic metres of grounds and soils to be totally re-engineered for a Staffordshire housing development scheme. The project has been a fine example for Cawarden to demonstrate it can successfully deliver a truly multi-faceted service resulting in value-engineered and cost-effective solutions for its client.

Cawarden demolished Northwich Outdoor Market following its devastating blaze in January. At the time, Cawarden assisted with the emergency demolition works and made the building safe after the fire was extinguished. Back on-site in the summer, Cawarden demolished what remained and cleared the site in preparation for future development.

The Education sector has certainly kept Cawarden busy in 2020! Bluecoat Academy is just one of twelve school projects Cawarden has completed up and down the country this year. The project at Bluecoat required asbestos removal and phased demolition works to areas of the existing school. The work – which was completed in a live school environment – has helped to facilitate the school’s transformation.

Following the completion of the phase one demolition works just before Christmas 2019, Cawarden arrived back on-site at the Hendon Hall Hotel in northwest London to erect a unique Cawarden-designed façade retention system. Once in place, the site team removed the final sections of the main building – leaving the historic Grade II-listed Georgian-style façade in place. The façade will be incorporated into a new development for a residential care and nursing home which is planned to open in 2021.

Working in London, the site on Luton Street in the heart of Westminster required Cawarden to deliver the demolition works for a number of derelict buildings which included a nursery school, community centre, and several residential blocks and multi-storey garages. The clearance of the site will allow 168 new homes to be constructed as part of Westminster City Council’s Church Street regeneration programme.

A brownfield site comprising several derelict warehouses, a double-storey office block, a weighbridge and a 20-metre high industrial structure required demolition and clearance. The former CEMEX ready mix concrete plant once operated at the site before it moved operations to other bases around the East Midlands. Close liaison with Network Rail was necessary due to some of the demolition work being carried out as little as 10 metres from the live Nottingham mainline railway. Cawarden, therefore, managed all of the key processes and procedures to deliver the works, safely and efficiently – and without any interruption to rail services. The project has cleared the way for 20 new homes to be built on the former industrial site.

Working on behalf of Birmingham City Council, Cawarden is currently on-site in Perry Barr. The complex scope of works includes the asbestos removal, hazardous materials removal and demolition of a series of buildings and all associated structures/infrastructure at the former Midland Chromium Factory. Due to significant levels of contamination at the former industrial site, Cawarden is managing and controlling every detail as part of its remediation strategy. On completion of the project, the work will provide a valuable beneficial after-use, as well as renewed economic prosperity and community benefits. 

Cawarden has been a main sponsor for the EEM Building Communities Awards for the last three years. Managing Director, William Crooks, presented the coveted Contractor of the Year award. The event helped to raise an amazing £43,000 for two fantastic charities, BulliesOut and FOCUS.

The Cawarden site team from Debenhams in Derby took part in #GBSeptemberClean in support of Keep Britain Tidy 2020. 25 bags of rubbish and recycling were collected from the site perimeter. 

A team of Cawarden golfers attended a charity golf day organised by Barratt Homes North Midlands. All proceeds raised during the event were donated to their Charity of the Year, Rainbows Hospice.

Money raised by Members of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) Midlands and Wales Regions over the last three years resulted in celebrations for the Derby-based children’s charity, The Titan Children’s Trust. William Crooks presented a cheque of £12,000 to the charity’s Founder, Felix Frixou.

Ever committed to helping the community and reducing its impact on the environment, Cawarden salvaged several items of sports equipment from a building that it was due to demolish in Birmingham. The items, which were found in a former school, were in perfect condition and too good to throw away. A new home for the sports equipment – full-sized football and table tennis tables – were found at the YMCA Derbyshire. The donations have given the residents a huge boost during these difficult times.

In conjunction with nmcn, Cawarden dropped off donations at the Swadlincote CVS Food Bank earlier this month. From breakfast cereal, baby food and soups to mince pies, selection boxes and children’s books and activity packs – Cawarden and nmcn hope their donations will go some way towards helping those in need this winter. It was heartwarming to see the hard work and dedication of the staff and volunteers working tirelessly to help the local community.

Colleagues across the UK joined forces for a Jolly Jumper Day on the 17^th December in aid of the YMCA Derbyshire. All funds raised during the event will help to buy essential items for the residents of the YMCA in Heanor.

News hot off the press! Cawarden has signed a 2020-21 sponsorship package to support Burton Albion FC. Sponsorship will begin on Saturday 19th December at home to Doncaster.

Cawarden is pleased to continue to be the Main Sponsor for the Castle Donington FC’s Sunday Men’s team.