Work begins on Monday 9 September 2024 on the demolition of a multi-storey car park in the heart of Havant town centre. Unlocking a prime site within convenient reach of local shops, easy road and rail connections and Havant Park, the demolition forms part of Havant Borough Council’s ambitious regeneration plans for the heart of Havant town centre.
With the car park closing to the public on Friday 6 September 2024 at 9pm and the site prepared for works, experienced contractors Hughes & Salvidge will then begin the demolition works. Every effort will be made to minimise disturbance during the project, which is expected to be completed in the winter of 2024. As highly skilled contractors, Hughes & Salvidge will use a wide range of techniques to mitigate against noise and dust pollution where possible whilst employing practices of entry, exit and disposal to best negate the impact on those in the immediate vicinity. Just some of the measures include:
- Water spraying to reduce dust
- Temporary drainage bungs to stop demolition waste entering the water network
- Using the frame of the building for noise suppression whilst interior demolition is underway
- Using the quietest types of machinery to reduce noise levels where possible
- Wrapping the building to help reduce noise and dust levels, and timber hoarding to contain the cleared site
- Considerate ingress and egress from site to best limit impact on local residents; site deliveries will endeavour to miss peak periods of traffic to minimise impact
- Restricted working hours will be between 8.00am to 5.00pm from Monday to Friday and occasional Saturdays - if required - between 8am and 1pm
In a commitment to reduce the environmental impact of the demolition works, the vast majority of materials resulting from the demolition will be recycled or sensitively used where possible, including the following measures::
- Recycling all concrete and brick rubble for future use as aggregate
- Collecting all metal for subsequent recycling
- Ensuring all demolition waste goes to the relevant expert waste carrier for recycling where possible
Councillor Gillian Harris MBE - Cabinet Lead for Regeneration & Communities - said “I’m excited to see real action underway to make best use of this central town centre site. The decisions we are committing to now will shape the future of Havant town centre for generations to come. Planning permission is in place and – with interested parties eager to develop the site to meet our recognised and future needs – I look forward to seeing the site work to the best benefit of residents and businesses alike. My thanks to everyone in advance for their patience and understanding during the demolition process.”
A public meeting will be held at St Faith’s Church in West Street Havant 7:00pm on Thursday 29 August, providing an opportunity for local residents to hear from - and ask questions of - council officers and the contractor about the demolition. For those not able to make the meeting they can contact the council prior to the meeting by emailing economic_development@havant.gov.uk with questions they wish to raise.
The site has been marketed and offers are currently being considered by Havant Borough Council. It is expected the outcome – which will be shared with the public – will be finalised shortly.
For more information on the project, visit www.havant.gov.uk/regeneration. To view the full breakdown on the demolition process – and all the mitigation processes in place – click here.