Our Approach to Airport Demolition

Airports are ever-evolving settings. Whether it’s an extensive project like the building of a new terminal, or the demolition of a disused building, airports often have important redevelopment projects both on the go and in the offing.

More often than not, they will require some element of demolition, site clearance, and/or land remediation to provide a suitably blank canvas in preparation for the next stage.

Hughes and Salvidge have considerable experience in the aerospace industry. Having worked at numerous airports across the UK both airside and landside, from Bournemouth to Manchester and several between, including the big two - London Heathrow and London Gatwick.

Hughes and Salvidge are the only demolition contractors with a permanent presence at London Heathrow Airport, having been active in airport demolition projects there since the 1990s. Our involvement has ranged from smaller individual jobs - strip outs and internal demolition works - to the complete demolition of multi-story buildings, piers and warehouses.

We’ve also undertaken projects in landside locations not within the boundary of London Heathrow Airport, continuing to ensure that all staff on-site had airside experience and maintained the exceptional standards required for an airside project. 

Over the three decades that we’ve been working in the aerospace industry, we’ve consistently developed and applied new ideas, which have now become standard practice for our experienced team.

Steps we take to ensure minimal disruption during airport projects

• Phased demolition
  We undertake our demolition projects in phases to keep disruption to a minimum for the client and those in the vicinity. By doing this, it means that the work is carried out in one focus area at a time, allowing operations to continue in other areas. It enables any noise and dust to be contained more easily, lessening the environmental impact. This approach also improves safety by isolating demolition zones and reducing risks.
  
  

• Off-peak works
  At sites away from residential areas, we often undertake work at off-peak times such as overnight or at weekends to reduce disruption, decrease traffic congestion and enhance safety. This also allows us to get the work done with less disruption to the day-to-day running of the airport
  
  

• Noise mitigation measures
  We take measures to minimise noise on our demolition sites to lessen the impact on those living or working in the areas surrounding the site. These include constructing noise barriers, scheduling the noisier activities during less sensitive times of the day, and using quieter machinery wherever possible.
  
  

• Debris fencing / netting
  We install debris fencing and netting around our demolition sites to capture and contain debris and dust, minimising environmental impact and enhancing safety to our staff, our client and the public. This contributes towards our excellence in maintaining a controlled and secure demolition environment.
  
  

• Dust suppression
  Dust suppression involves the application of liquid to effectively restrict the airborne dissemination of fine particles. The water captures airborne dust particles, causing them to fall to the ground rather than disperse into the air. We utilise a dust suppression system that uses atomized misting equipment, which creates a water curtain, preventing the dust from being released into the air where it can become problematic.
  
  

• Retaining external structure
  Wherever possible on our demolition projects, we retain the building’s external structure as long as possible to protect the surrounding environment from the disruption, noise, debris and dust. We take it down only when we need to to progress the project.
  
  

• Excellent communication
  We communicate our project plans amongst our staff, to the customer and to any other parties that may be impacted by the project, to ensure that everyone is fully informed and knows what to expect every step of the way.
  
  

Recycling materials from our airport demolition projects

In line with our commitment to sustainability, we recycle the majority of the waste generated during our airport demolition projects. Working with our network of trusted recycling partners across the UK and beyond, we direct the various categories of waste down the most appropriate route for their type, prioritising recycle, reuse, and upcycle initiatives.

• Concrete / masonry / bricks / tarmac - utilised for the production of recycled aggregates
  
  

• Wood - reused or sent down the Biomass / Energy from Waste route
  
  

• Metals - recycled, by our sister company H&S Metals, where possible
  
  

• Soil - where inert, utilised for other projects or restoration
  
  

• Glass and plastics - sent to specialist recycling facilities for melting for reuse
  
  

• Insulation materials - sent to specialist recycling facilities for melting / shredding to create new materials
  
  

• Plasterboard - sent to specialist recycling facilities where it is processed to separate the gypsum from the paper, with the gypsum then being reprocessed into new plasterboard
  
  

Why choose Hughes and Salvidge for your airport demolition work?

• Highly experienced in delivering airport projects
  We are highly experienced in aerospace demolition, having worked on countless projects at many airports over the past 30 years. We draw upon this experience for future projects, and we’re continuously honing our processes to ensure that we’re delivering the best possible solutions for our clients.
  
  

• High levels of expertise
  Our staff demonstrate high levels of expertise in all they do. With decades of experience in airport demolition, our team uses their in-depth knowledge to undertake each and every project with skill and precision.
  
  

• Prioritising safety
  We prioritise safety above all else and follow strict safety protocols throughout every project from start to finish. This ensures the safety and wellbeing of our customer, staff and the public, whilst also ensuring we adhere to any relevant regulations.
  
  

• On time and on budget
  We have an exemplary record of achieving project completion on time and within budget. This reassures our existing and potential customers that not only will we get the job done well, we’ll get it done within your timeframes and without it costing more than you expect.
  
  

• Highly considerate
  We’re a considerate demolition company, going above and beyond to ensure that any disruption caused is kept to a minimum for all involved.
  
  

• Sustainable
  We consider sustainability in all we do, and are heavily involved in recycling, upcycling, and reuse strategies.
  
  

• Complete solution
  With our collection of companies, we can offer our clients a complete solution - Demolish. Crush. Recycle. Demolish with Hughes and Salvidge. Crush with K&B Crushers. Recycle with H&S Metals. And not forgetting H&S Asbestos for all your asbestos removal and disposal needs.
  
  

Please get in touch to discuss Airport Demolition Works with our friendly and knowledgeable team. You can also find out more about some of the Airport Demolition Projects we’ve assisted on.