Walters are delighted to announce that we have secured a £0.5m demolition contract at the former British Ceramic Tile (BCT) factory in Newton Abbot, Devon. BCT had been in operation at the Newton Abbot site since the 1800s and, following a major expansion in 2009, became the largest and most efficient tile-making plant on one site in Europe capable of producing 30,000 square metres of tiles per day. BCT was one of the largest employers in the south west with whole generations of families employed at the site.

Walters will work for a consortium of new owners who have pledged to attract new businesses to the 17-acre site in the hope of replacing many of the 350 jobs that were lost when the tile manufacturer went under. The vast building will be refurbished and sub-divided to attract new distribution or manufacturing occupiers. The iconic spray dryer tower, visible to drivers on the adjacent A38 dual carriageway and one of the best-known landmarks in the south west, will be dismantled by Walters as part of our work at the site.

Due to start in January 2020, the contract is another important win for the company in the south west following recent work for Bovis Homes, Bloor Homes, Persimmon Homes and Augean PLC, as well as a number of internal Group projects.