Levelling up needs demolition

The National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NDFC) explains how demolition is necessary to regenerate towns and cities

There are many different ideas as to what levelling up means. Some people focus on money and the redistribution of wealth away from London, while others focus on matters like infrastructure and industrial strategy.
    
At its core, levelling up (or any other name by which it has been known over the past 30 years) involves creating opportunity and raising standards of living for those from less advantaged areas.
    
According to the ONS, the difference in life expectancy between the most deprived and most well-off areas of England is 9.4 years for men and 7.6 years for women. Levelling up is not therefore a phrase to be used for political exploitation, it is a fundamental necessity for a modern and thriving country such as the UK and requires strategic thought and significant investment.
    
If the potential of the most deprived areas is to be realised, and opportunity created, then the built environment has a major role to play. Governments of all colours, local and national, have to consider how the built environment feeds into the ambition of levelling up.
    
Towns and cities across the country are seeing regeneration and many of those, once heralded as ‘run down’ have been provided with a new lease of life and now present a far more modern and attractive image to residents and those from further afield.
    
Returning to the matter of life expectancy, one major consideration is that of housing. Many residential properties in the most deprived areas present serious health risks for their residents. Those built in densely populated areas, such as Victorian mining cottages, or 1960s council estates that may be flush with asbestos or black mould and aspergillus spores, have not been effectively maintained or modernised due to lack of available investment. Residents may not be able to afford renovations or may not be allowed to modernise, if renting. Council houses are not always fully maintained to modern safety standards, as various stories in the media testify.

In fact, according to the charity Shelter, children growing up in bad housing have up to 25 per cent higher risk of severe ill-health and disability during childhood and early adulthood.
    
Therefore, it is imperative that the built environment is given due attention when considering how levelling up is executed.
    
This requires a range of activities including, refurbishment, demolition and fresh construction.

How demolition constructs a fairer future
When considering the built environment, councils and national governments will be thinking about the best way to manage old assets – council building, community centres, libraries, council housing estates and others.
    
Ways of living, working and socialising have all shifted. The role of the high street has changed and the built environment must adapt accordingly to support this shift and create fresh opportunity.
    
This requires decision makers to look at the usability and adaptability of existing assets. Some may be able to be refurbished to serve the purpose of a modern, levelled up town. Others may not.
    
Many aged government assets will not safely support structural redesign and may be contaminated with asbestos and thus present a major risk and so demolition may be the only viable solution.
    
Taking down old, unfit or unsafe buildings creates space for bright, open and adaptable spaces. These spaces allow for experiential town centres. New businesses pop-up, events are scheduled for once deserted town centres and residents and visitors ‘come out to play’…and spend.
    
Jobs are created, modern housing reduces health risks and some of the key contributors to poverty are thwarted.

Jobs for all
Another major contribution of demolition to the levelling up agenda pertains to employment - and employment is a major arm of the levelling up agenda.
    
The built environment sector fundamentally requires labour and many opportunities are created by demolition organisations in a variety of disciplines.
    
Members of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) conform to the highest standards of quality and safety and are required to resource all sites to ensure the impact on staff and communities is as positive as possible.
    
Demand is created for people in roles ranging from machine operation and security through to quantity surveying, engineering, safety and community engagement. Our members are constantly creating a wide range of new roles to drive their businesses forward and support the communities in which they operate.
    
Another employment-related benefit of demolition is the provision of apprenticeships and training.
    
There is a strong demand for fresh talent in the demolition industry and our member organisations are investing heavily in apprenticeships for young people, as well as experienced professionals and those making the shift from other areas of work, especially ex-offenders and ex-services personnel.
    
Our sister organisation, the National Demolition Training Group (NDTG), has recently re-launched its Trailblazer Apprenticeship program, supporting our members and the wider industry in bringing on board new recruits and helping them establish a career in this vital industry.
    
Our members also invest heavily in on-the-job training of their staff, covering everything from machine operation to ongoing health and safety training and asbestos management. The development of people is another crucial element of wealth creation and societal contribution enabled through demolition.

Don’t be scared of demolition
Demolition sometimes gets a bad rap. Read the media and you will see calls for demolition to be stopped because it’s noisy, dusty, dirty and dangerous.
    
These perceptions are often unfounded and misplaced.
    
With demolition, a certain amount of disruption is to be expected. The act of bringing down a building made of brick, concrete, steel and timber cannot be completed in silence without dust or vibration.
    
That said, the industry is very aware of these factors and deploys a range of practices to mitigate them, from water-based dust suppression to extensive business and resident liaison.
    
In addition, our members are frequently involved with helping groups in the communities in which they work – perhaps renovating a Scout hut, establishing a community garden or giving careers talks to local schools.
    
Another major discussion point surrounds the environmental impact of demolition. Again, a certain degree of impact is to be expected but, once more, perceptions often do not match reality.
    
For instance, did you know that UK demolition companies typically re-use or recycle about 98 per cent of waste produced on site – a world-leading statistic.
    
Our members are also heavily investing in alternative fuels, such as HVO, and modern machinery to minimise emissions. Combine this with the extensive industry collaboration and we are confident that the industry will continually reduce its emissions over the coming years.

Demolition is necessary – councils can choose how
In summary – demolition is necessary for society to thrive and to adapt. It paves the way for modern living, for businesses to grow and for job creation.
    
The industry itself creates jobs and trains many cross-sectors of society to embark upon a new career.
    
Upskilled, employed members of society living in vibrant, modern communities are surely the bedrock of levelling up so demolition is clearly
a vital part of that process.
    
Local authorities must look to deploy regeneration projects with developers and demolition companies that care, that invest in their people and the communities in which they work. Demolition won’t be the first choice every time but, when its necessary, it can be a major positive contributor to those towns and cities that so desperately need a helping hand.