Freeley completes Welsh landmark demolition

Manchester, UK, based contractor J Freeley has completed the demolition of a landmark building in the north Wales resort town of Colwyn Bay as part of a major regeneration project, Bay Life+, which involves the purchase of properties of strategic significance to the tow’s future. Conwy County Borough Council acquired the former market hall and neighbouring empty shops with the assistance of the Welsh government in 2012.

To bring down the 19^th Century, four storey building that adjoined a historic and listed former cinema, Freeley first had to carry out asbestos remediation and then prop the building to make it safe before demolition could begin. Careful pre-planning was required, since the site lay on Princes Drive that runs through Colwyn Bay town centre and near the A55, a busy main road, and a railway line. Complex traffic management issues had to be addressed, including the provision of temporary traffic lights and careful phasing of heavy goods site traffic to avoid congestion and disruption in the town centre.

Freeley achieved a recycling rate of 98% on the project, with 125 tonnes of wood and timber, 70,000 bricks, 20 tonnes of steel, 10 tonnes of light iron and 1,800 tonnes of hardcore processed for re-use on other construction projetcs.

Managing director John Freeley said of the project: “Our experience in dealing with schemes of a complex nature meant we were fully capable of tackling the challenges presented by this project, including the presence of hazardous materials, the location of the site and the listed building next door.”

“We were delighted to complete the project for the local authority, which will hopefully help to breathe new life into a popular resort.”