Littlewoods retail building faced a structural risk during partial demolition

The Littlewoods building was closed in 1994 and had been vacant ever since. (PHOTO: Maybe Hire)

Monitoring equipment from Mabey Hire installed on the structure identified unexpected movement in the building’s clock tower, leading to adjustments in the project plan to address potential safety concerns.

Originally built in 1938, the art deco structure, which includes a clock tower, had been severely damaged by a fire in 2018, raising questions about the stability of its clock tower.

Howard Stott Demolition, contracted by developers Capital & Centric, was tasked with dismantling the building’s interior while preserving its historic façades. During the works monitoring equipment from Mabey Hire detected unexpected movement in the building’s clock tower, prompting the contractor to urgently address safety concerns and change the project’s plans. 

Ryan Noon, Project Manager for Howard Stott Demolition, said: “Deflection monitoring was required by our own engineers, Anduns, to provide us with a Green-Amber-Red, ‘traffic light’ type warning of movement while the demolition was going on.”

“The data showed us that the clock tower was twisting and rotating to a much greater degree than anticipated, leaning forwards very close to a public boundary. Following consultation with the client, the decision was taken to demolish and rebuild the tower.”

The Littlewoods’ building clock tower. (PHOTO: MABEY HIRE)

The real-time monitoring system used by Howard Stott Demolition comprised the installation of 50 wireless sensors and a weather station to monitor wind speeds, which might impact the stability of the building. 

The system, which was active throughout the demolition works, was also configured to automatically send alerts to the project team and clients whenever any undue movements occurred.

“Following the first conversations with the customer, we attended the initial meeting on site to get a first-hand understanding of the challenges faced, before we began planning the monitoring package,” said Steve Howell, Monitoring Engineer at Mabey Hire.

According to temporary works equipment and services provider Mabey Hire, the information provided by the monitoring system enabled the demolition contractor to “make safety decisions” and to manage the “risks associated with the project’s structural complexities”.