Royal Mail, Nine Elms Lane

Royal Mail Group & M3 Consulting

12 weeks

£380,000

Southwark, London SW8

Location & Overview

The site was owned by the Royal Mail Group and used as one of the main sorting and distribution offices serving the West London area. Previously part of a former gas works, constructed around 1930, left a legacy of high concentrations of contamination within the soils, requiring an additional remediation package of works. The main building was constructed from a heavily reinforced concrete frame with solid floor slabs, with the single storey postal sorting area being a light-weight modular steel framed structure clad with aluminium panels.

Work, Challenges & Solutions

Removal of the high-level footbridge and diversion of existing power supplies to the Gatehouse and fuel island, whilst maintaining full operational use of the site.

The resulting concrete was processed to remove the reinforcing bar prior to crushing to 6F2. This was left stockpiled on site for the clients future use.

Demolition was carried out with minimal impact to Royal Mail operations and staff, involving close liaison with R.M and Trade Union Associations, keeping everyone fully informed regarding progress and methods of work.

We adjusted the one-way system with the use of temporary road closures, working outside normal hours and removing the operational footbridge.

Achievements

During “out of hours” work, we removed a large section of the east elevation of the structure with minimum disruption to Royal Mail operations, which was achieved with careful planning & regular consultation with Royal Mail Management and Staff.

In recognition of the works carried out on the busy live Royal Mail site, John F Hunt was awarded The Considerate Constructors Bronze Award.