Paul Brown, the former president of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors, has passed away. Like his father before him, he leaves behind a hole as big as his personality. For many in the UK demolition industry, Paul was the loud voice in the room; a man for whom protocol and formality were merely a…Read moreRead more
News
RIP – Paul Brown
P.P. O’Connor responds
Manchester-based P.P. O’Connor has issued an official statement on the partial building and scaffold collapse that occurred in the city centre on Friday afternoon. The statement reads: “On Friday 24th October at approximately 2.00 pm, we had a structural collapse at a site in Manchester, this follows encountering an un-foreseen structural failure associated with a…Read moreRead more
BREAKING NEWS – Manchester Collapse
DemolitionNews has received reports of what appears to be a scaffold or partial building collapse in Manchester City Centre this afternoon. We were alerted by a news report on Manchester Evening News. That report says the building involved is understood to be Alberton House; it’s off Bridge Street in the city centre, but spans around…Read moreRead more
Was it worth it?
White House demolition contractor faces massive public backlash. It was surely the most high-profile project in the company’s history. But the company that is demolishing part of the White House to make space for President Donald Trump’s ballroom has been flooded with negative reviews online by people angry at the partial destruction of the East…Read moreRead more
NYC contractor to pay restitution
A New York City demolition company will have to pay hundreds of workers a combined $1.4 million under a restitution agreement with the New York attorney general’s office, after the company allegedly denied workers compensation on a regular basis for years. Prosecutors said Alba Services agreed to pay the funds to 700 former and current…Read moreRead more
Kehoe calls for UK demolition license
Asbestos removal is licensed. Waste handling and disposal is licensed. Demolition is unlicensed. In this exclusive interview with Mike Kehoe of C&D Engineering Consultants, we explore the compelling reasons for licensing the UK demolition industry. The discussion highlights the current lack of regulation, the associated risks, and how a licensing system similar to that of…Read moreRead more
Mansfield car park faces axe
The BBC is this morning reporting that a multi-storey car park that partially collapsed will need to be demolished. The top deck of the Walkden Street car park in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, which had been shut since February last year due to safety concerns, suffered “structural damage” at the end of August. Now, Mansfield District Council…Read moreRead more
Careys settles over collusion claim
Industry news portal Construction Enquirer is reporting that a claim by a developer against Carey Group that it was overcharged £2.4 million for demolition work has been withdrawn after both sides reached a settlement. Hong Kong based developer Circadian Limited launched the action in March claiming it was overcharged for demolition work caught up in…Read moreRead more
Thompsons acquired
One of the UK’s best-known and most-respected demolition contractors has been acquired. Industry magazine Construction News is reporting that Thompsons of Prudhoe has become part of construction materials firm Ashcourt Group. Thompsons was founded in 1948 by Bill and Madge Thompson and remained in the family, being run by their grandchildren John Thompson and Helen…Read moreRead more
Deconstruct gets Grenfell nod
Construction Enquirer is reporting this morning that Deconstruct has been selected to tackle the highly-sensitive demolition of Grenfell Tower. Deconstruct has been active on the Grenfell site since 2017, handling propping, clearance, and safety monitoring. The Government awarded Deconstruct (UK) the deal without competition under a contract variation, citing technical reasons and the risk of…Read moreRead more
