HWM Group were pleased to win the contract to demolish and clear the old Leisure World site on West Quay Road, Southampton and are very proud to have worked with our client, ABP Port of Southampton, to prepare the site in line with Southampton City Council’s long-term vision and redevelopment plans for the waterfront. Whilst the site will initially become a temporary car park for both the cruise terminal and imported cars, there are plans to develop the site as part of the Mayflower Quarter development which will be leisure and retail focused.
The loss of the leisure world site may be seen as controversial by some local residents, however the decline of the cinema, restaurants and clubs had been on the horizon for some time prior to its demise.
Rome wasn’t built in a day and the future redevelopment plans provide an ambitious vision that will transform a long overdue leisure and socially focused waterfront which balances Southampton’s commercial marine and port heritage at the same time. You can view the plan at the following link: https://www.southampton.gov.uk/media/bulfgzn2/mayflower-quarter-masterplan-c.pdf
The current site structure was originally built for Pirelli Cables and then became a storage facility before being transformed to a multiplex cinema and leisure complex. Nearly fifty per cent of the structure’s volume above the old cinema and restaurants was an empty void as seen in the video. The nightclub section towards the South rear was added some time later.
The site structure was mainly steel construction with partitioned sections using masonry constructed walls, mezzanine levels and concrete floor slabs. HWM Group minimised disruption by working back from the South portside up to West Quay Road while retaining the attached Grosvenor Casino and parking area fronting the dual carriageway.
HWM Group’s civil engineering unit started strengthening the steel works within the Leisure World structure immediately where the warehouse wall adjoins the Grosvenor Casino in order that the surrounding structure could be demolished around it whilst making good with new external cladding.
The project was delivered to schedule over 16 weeks and HWM Group removed and recycled 98 per cent of the steel, concrete and cabling reducing the site to the original ground level slab.
The majority of the building is steel construction and it is anticipated that the breakdown of recovered materials will be as follows:
Steel Fabrication: 1,200 tons
Concrete & Masonry: 600 tons
Wood: 160 tons
Cable & Wiring: 50 tons
With live services in the port and along West Quay Road, HWM Group were meticulous in the planning of all road transport movements in and out of the site as well as providing dust suppression. Where feasible, concrete was crushed and repurposed for levels across the site which further reduced lorry movements and associated costs.
Adam Blake, Director, said, “The Leisure World demolition contract shows that our group experience as a local company across demolition, waste handling and civil engineering has been recognised for our local expertise and the resources we can bring to projects of this size and scope.“