Concrete plant taken down by Demolition experts

WYE Valley Demolition is playing a key role as subcontractor to Balfour Beatty Vinci in the dismantling and demolition of a major concrete batching plant at Avonmouth, located just yards from the Bristol Channel at Royal Edward Dock.

Working in partnership with HS2, the project began with a complex and carefully coordinated lift of large concrete plant components, including silo frames and containers, which took place on June 11 and 12. These critical elements of the batching plant were safely lifted using high-reach cranes and loaded onto two lorries for transport to Nuneaton, where they will be reused in future infrastructure work.

Leading the Avonmouth operation is Tyler Fox, whose team has successfully initiated a 12-week dismantling programme that involves the removal of aggregate bins and associated structures. The project reflects HS2’s focus on sustainability, with plant components being either reused or responsibly recycled as scrap.

"As we have shown in the past with complex lifts and removals – such as those carried out at a plant under the shadows of the QEII Bridge in Greenwich last year – our team has the national reputation and experience to deliver intricate and technical demolitions" - Terry Davies, Operations Director

“This work is the start of a broader dismantling phase, which will continue into July," said Terry Davies, Operations Director at Wye Valley Demolition. “Tyler and the team at Avonmouth have done a great job thus far. The feedback we have from Balfour Beatty has been excellent."

Ready to load: One of several aggregate bins is removed and placed onto a lorry, as it will be used again

Davies explained that the removal of the silos involved a highly technical lift, requiring the use of two high-reach cranes to coordinate the operation precisely. "As we have shown in the past with complex lifts and removals – such as those carried out at a plant under the shadows of the QEII Bridge in Greenwich last year – our team has the national reputation and experience to deliver intricate and technical demolitions.”

The wider Avonmouth deplanting project also involves dismantling a radial conveyor, bullet rails, and other associated concrete infrastructure. Crews will manually divorce the outside rails from the washing station to the batching plant and will dismantle remaining structures including a compressor, site canteen, and supporting equipment.

Broad focus: Wye Valley Demolition undertake major decommissioning work all over the country

The next major phase of the works will take place from July 7 to July 18, focusing on the final dismantling of the batching plant and other temporary structures.

This project forms part of the broader HS2 enabling works, with Wye Valley Demolition’s expertise contributing to the efficient and environmentally conscious decommissioning of key industrial assets.