Demolition Project hosts Derby College site visit

We were joined on site in Derby on the 20th June by a group of undergraduates from Derby College to discuss the processes and challenges of demolishing two above ground gasholders in a very prominent position opposite Derby County’s Pride Park Stadium.

Studying a broad sweep of construction related subjects the students were welcomed on site by Mark Bratcher, the VHE Project Manager, and given a presentation by Rachael Elliott of consultancy Advisian who is managing the project on behalf of National Grid. Rachael’s presentation included a history of the site followed by a review of the issues which need to be addressed in the demolition work covering operational details, health and safety and current legislation. Rory Belcher from PPS Group briefed the students on the early and ongoing work with the local community to ensure that they are kept informed of progress and any concerns addressed at the earliest opportunity.

Following the office briefing the students were then given a supervised site visit to see the demolition work, taking the time to ask relevant questions and gain some insight into the details of the project. On the whole, it was agreed, a morning well spent.

Gasholder number 6, built in 1957, was 70.1 metres in diameter and 12.8 metres in height with 4 lifts. Gasholder number 7, built in 1962, is 68 metres in diameter and 11.3 metres in height with 5 lifts.

The demolition programme for both gasholders is eight months and we are five months into the project; along with two gasholders in Leicester we are currently demolishing four of our largest to date.

As part of our framework agreement with National Grid a total of 13 gasholders will be demolished by the end of September 2016. To date we have undertaken a total of fifteen, eleven above ground and four below ground. The diameters ranging from 31 to 82 metres with heights of between 7 and 13.7 metres.

We are on track to deliver the clients’ requirements on time, within the agreed budget and in a safe and environmentally sustainable manner.