Construction Challenges

Brooks Dye Works, St Werburghs, Bristol

Brandon Yard, Bristol

From former factories and historic buildings to waterside locations, Dave Gittins and his team are not afraid of challenging developments and delivering complex construction projects.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Dave Gittins our Regional Construction Director and his team have a proven track record of delivering complex construction projects. Their vast experience and specialist skill set along with a flexible approach to planning and problem solving, enables them to successfully deliver bespoke solutions for demanding schemes to maximise a site’s full potential. Here are a few the Bristol team have been working on.

Brandon Yard, located on Bristol’s Floating Harbour opposite the SS Great Britain, was a regeneration project that involved the careful restoration and conversion of two Grade II listed buildings, as well as the creation of a six-storey new build apartment block on a former Gasworks industrial site. Derelict for over 40 years, the listed buildings - which were originally constructed in the early 19th century, were at risk of collapse. So our design and construction team had to carefully stabilise, dismantle and reconstruct elements which involved the removal of support steels within the buildings and an installation of piling and new steel frames for the retention of the existing Grade II listed facades. Many challenges were also posed logistically on this project, as the site was tightly positioned along a popular harbour walk regularly used by the public which meant there was limited space for storage of materials and therefore prudent planning for management of deliveries was required. Eventually site access had to instead be created by removing an existing listed wall, involving collaboration with the local conservation officer. Brooks Dye Works is a key regeneration site in St Werburghs, Bristol. The former Brooks Laundry dates back to the 19th century when the site was used by Brooks Dyers and Cleaners. However, when Acorn took on the project - the derelict buildings were unsafe and required demolition, but the iconic landmark chimney was to be retained. There was significant contamination due to the previous industrial use and the site required extensive remediation for groundworks to proceed. The site was also a risk for unexploded ordnance, so the team had to work carefully with UXO specialists under a watching brief. It’s safe to say that this was one of our most interesting development projects so far!

The Old Printworks in Frome required demolition of the existing print works and presented interesting challenges due to being located on the former Butler, Tanner & Dennis site; one of Britain’s foremost colour printers. The site was part landfill, so extensive land remediation and ground stabilisation techniques were essential to clear the site. We also had to de-commission and remove an existing substation, as well as undertake major foul sewer diversions and re-route major high voltage and take overhead cables underground. Slope stabilisation was needed at the southern edge of site, where it was subject to falling into the River Frome and with the river there were naturally many ecological factors to consider too, including creating a new riverside walk.