Stamp of approval for sorting office demolition

Work has started to demolish the former Royal Mail sorting office in Coventry, United Kingdom, and pave the way for a £73 million (US$110 million) regeneration package.

Birmingham-based demolition, decommissioning and remediation specialist DSM is carrying out the demolition and clearance work at the site, which is scheduled to finish in February.

The sorting office has been closed since November 2010.

DSM contracts manager Billy Young joined Coventry University’s deputy vice-chancellor David Soutter and the city’s deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Lindsley Harvard, as work to bring down the empty building started.

The university and property developer Barberry Developments are planning to transform the site.

Plans are due to be submitted before the end of the year to create high quality student accommodation buildings, courtyards and gardens on the site, including retail units that will be open to the public.

David said: “It is well documented that this site has been empty for the last five years, but we believe our plans will see a total transformation, which will bring a vastly improved environment and some much-needed vitality and activity.

“We want to provide a range of high-quality accommodation for around 1,200 of our students and we want the area to be a fully-integrated part of the city centre.”