PROJECT OUTLINE

Walters were awarded the high profile contract to demolish a number of redundant buildings at the former RAF St Athan site in South Wales in order to clear the way for Welsh Governments’ exciting new Bro Tathan International Business Park. Situated within the Cardiff Airport and St Athan Enterprise Zone, Bro Tathan is a significant and unique development with a ready-to-use commercial airfield on site. The site is also 5 miles from Cardiff Airport and within easy reach of the M4 motorway and major UK cities.

Global car icon Aston Martin is already operating at Bro Tathan as anchor tenant with significant space available for further businesses and organisations. Welsh Government have big ambitions for the site given its scale and proximity to an airfield for companies needing easy access to air freight and UK and international markets.

A link to the Welsh Governments promotional video for the site can be found here: Bro Tathan Open for Business

Walters beat off strong competition from local and national demolition specialists to secure the works to demolish the former MoD buildings on the proposed development site.

PROJECT DELIVERY

Walters mobilised to site quickly at the client’s request and immediately set about enabling works for the demolition. This included working closely with the incumbent facilities managers on the MoD site to arrange service disconnections to each of the redundant buildings. Following this, Walters arranged for Demolition Asbestos Surveys to be undertaken on all above and below ground structures earmarked for demolition. Once the surveys had been completed, all asbestos containing materials identified were removed in strict accordance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations.

During the enabling works phase the Walters site team worked closely with the clients appointed ecologist to a European Protected Species (EPS) Bat Licence to ensure that no harm was caused to bats or bat roosts during the demolition phase.

Following completion of the enabling works, Walters mobilised a number of demolition specification machines – ranging in size from 20t up to 50t – to undertake the structural demolition. All structures were raised to the ground in a pre-determined sequence and slabs and foundations were removed. In all, over 8,000m3 of hard arisings were processed and crushed on site to a 6F2 grading under a WRAP protocol, with full testing and certification being provided to the Client as validation of the recycled product. The recycled material was then used to reinstate the footprint areas of the demolished buildings to leave a clear and level site ready for the Bro Tathan Business Park development.

Close liaison with project stakeholders, including the Cardiff Airport Airfield Management team, was key to the success of the project.

Walters completed their works at Bro Tathan on time and to the clients budget. David George, Project Manager for Bro Tathan on behalf of Welsh Government commented: “…..thank you Walters for a job very well done”.