Demolition of Former Monarch HQ, Luton

Situated on the main Luton airport operational site to the north of the main runway the building had been vacant since the collapse of Monarch in 2017 until it was sold to developers for refurbishment.

C Jackson & Sons were awarded the contract to demolish the west wing of the building which housed the flight simulator.

The future development required use of the existing car park around the building which severely limited our working room.

After removal of asbestos containing gaskets from the third floor plant room the building was soft stripped back to a bare shell.

The substantial 16m high steel frame building abutted the retained office and initial hand separation was required before mechanical demolition could begin. Roof and wall cladding was carefully removed by operatives working safely from MEWPs

Temporary protection was placed over the surrounding tarmacadam surface and the building was demolished into its own footprint using a 23m high reach excavator fitted with a demolition cutting shear attachment.

All materials had to be separated and processed on the building floor slab. Scrap metal and other demolition waste were periodically removed from site.

The significant reinforced concrete ground slab and ring beam foundations were broken out using 40 tonne and 15 tonne excavators fitted with breakers. Exposed pile cap locations were recorded and piles were broken down to 1m below ground level.

Concrete arisings were crushed to 6f2 grading and stockpiled clear of the work area.

In total 172 tonnes of scrap metal, timber and plasterboard were recovered and sent for recycling.

1,500 tonnes of concrete was recycled on site for use in the future development.

The work was completed on programme within 5 weeks.