Caswell assists the Hospital Sites Programme

As the agency responsible for delivering the government’s regeneration agenda, Our client is currently engaged in regenerating 96 former NHS hospital sites covering 1,600 hectares of land. Acting on behalf of the agency, Caswell Environmental Services Ltd is now delivering a 18 week programme of asbestos removal and disposal work at in Surrey, in preparation for demolition and eventual redevelopment.

The £1.3m contract involves the safe removal, under fully enclosed and controlled conditions, of asbestos and other contaminated materials from a derelict former theatre on the hospital site, including adjacent rooms, corridors and underground duct tunnels. The theatre had been badly damaged by fire, leaving a one metre thick layer of rubble mixed with blue asbestos dust and raw asbestos lagging on its floor. Since the floor is suspended, contaminated debris had fallen through to the void underneath.

An extensive survey of the theatre area identified the need to remove 6 to 7cm of sprayed insulation to walls, fire-damaged debris contaminated with sprayed insulation, floor boards and burned roof timber from the main hall alone, along with asbestos pipe insulation from the ducts and asbestos cement ceiling panels from the corridors and rooms. Along with the customary air moving equipment, suppressant injection system, vacuum cleaners, hygiene unit and plant machines, the project has required the construction of enclosures in all working areas and the use of mini-excavators, a birdcage scaffold and dumper trucks.

The intricate nature of the work, together with complexity of access and security issues relating to the site, have made this project a unique addition to the Caswell portfolio. Completion is expected by June 2006, following which the site will be redeveloped for new affordable housing in line with government policy on creating, promoting and enhancing sustainable communities.

Caswell assists major expansion

Caswell Environmental Services Ltd has played an important part in facilitating the expansion of a major retailer, which has been acquiring and refurbishing premises in many of Britain’s key retail localities since the late 1990s. They have now consolidated its status as one of the UK’s major high street retailers with the purchase of 120 stores, 40 of which are currently undergoing conversion.

Caswell’s association with the retailer began with projects at premises in Newport, Sunderland, Hemel Hempstead and Boscombe. Caswell have been contracted to provide asbestos abatement and strip out services as part of the refurbishment stores at locations including Croydon, Maidstone, Swindon, Swansea, Doncaster and Hanley. The total value of the contracts is in excess of £4m, ranging from £350,000 to £600,000 in value at any one time.

Caswell’s involvement with scheme resulted from the company’s past experience with the client and from a successful competitive tender, consequent to which the company was able to negotiate participation in further store refurbishment schemes.

Although the work has varied from premises to premises – enabling Caswell teams to demonstrate their adaptability, flexibility and problem-solving ability – common features of each of the projects have included excavation of contaminants and removal of asbestos from ceilings, pipe work, ductwork, diesel tanks and boilers; soft stripping the original premises back to shell (sometimes requiring the opening up floors and removing waste via boxed chutes) and the removal of lifts, escalators and partitions as necessary.

The last of the projects is due for completion at the end of March 2006.