Cheval Property Holdings has employed Skanska as the primary contractor for the demolition of a building in Knightsbridge, London.
The contract will run until October next year and will see the building removed down to basement level, ahead of a scheduled redevelopment.
The contract will also see the Skanska team retain and clean the front of the Grade II listed, early 20th Century mansion block site, which is part of the Hyde Park conservation area and Skanska believed that it is London’s biggest façade project of its type.
The company believes that it won the contract thanks to its experience in logistics and traffic management, along with experience of demolition within tight constraints on site and façade retention systems.
The site is situated opposite the French embassy and is bound by shops and offices, residential properties and two five-star hotels.
Paul Heather, Managing Director at Skanska, said that their team has delivered on a number of similar projects and customers’ expectations have already been exceeded by their experience and knowledge.
Heather added: “This latest project start confirms that the commercial development market in London remains active, and Skanska is playing a significant part in the sector. We have a strong pipeline of work and look forward to working with developers across the city to create their developments.”
After a pre-construction service agreement, a competitive tender process was carried out which saw Skanska come out on top to secure the contract, where the team undertook enabling and investigative works and asbestos removal.
Meanwhile, the Swedish construction firm has lowered its outlook for non-residential construction in the UK after the country’s vote to leave the European Union.
Johan Karlstroem, Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Ahead of the Brexit vote, private developers were in a wait-and-see mode and refrained from starting projects – that cautiousness has continued after the referendum.”
