Demolition or Refurbishment – Which is Best?

21st July 2022 by ProDEM

When it comes to your old building demolition or refurbishment are both options. If this is the case then a technical assessment must be made to determine which option is best suited for the structure.

This decision can be based on:

The process of demolishing and constructing a structure can generally take longer. However, if the building is unstable and needs to be structurally altered then demolition and a new build would be a better option. Furthermore, refurbishing such a building would be very time-consuming and costly.

Demolition

Demolition in Nottingham

However, there are certain cases where demolition is the only option for dangerous or unsightly buildings.  An example of this was Greyfriars bus station in Northampton which was demolished in March following safety concerns.

Dubbed the ‘mouth of hell’ by Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud and ‘infamously ugly’ by the Lonely Planet guide. The safety of the bus station was put under scrutiny after two people died after being hit by buses inside the station.

It also faced criticism a year after it opened after formations of mineral stalactites were discovered inside the building, thus putting the safety of the building in jeopardy.

Northampton Borough Council has stated that the structure was costing taxpayers £500,000 in repairs every year. Furthermore, it would take almost £30 million to renovate. Therefore, making demolition the most suitable option. It ensured the structure was dealt with safely while proving to be the most cost-effective solution to this unpleasant, hazardous building.

Refurbishment

Building Demolition in Leicester

In some cases, the expense of ongoing maintenance makes demolition the most logical solution for certain buildings. However, some believe that the current VAT rules are “undermining sustainable development by rewarding developers who demolish buildings and penalising those who refurbish.”

A figure at the forefront of this belief in the UK is Duncan Baker-Brown who created an award-winning building made entirely of recycled materials which is the first permanent public building of its kind in Europe.

The materials include:

Mr Baker-Brown is asking politicians to implement an awards system that encourages green retrofit projects in a bid to reduce CO2 emissions and combat climate change.

According to Baker-Brown, “there is no such thing as waste, just stuff in the wrong place”. So he hopes to encourage the kind of recycling and reuse of materials that he applied to his Waste House project. Baker-Brown also states that: “A green retrofit will probably reduce the carbon footprint of a formerly gas-guzzling home by 60-80 per cent.

But most clients, however well off, will baulk at handing over say £350,000 in VAT on a £1.75million project.  Amazingly, the alternative is to completely demolish the existing property for as little as £7,500. Then build a completely new property with VAT zero-rated, therefore saving over £300,000.”

With this in mind, he has proposed a change in VAT rules.  So they encourage new builds and renovation projects to support green retrofits.

Contact Us

Hopefully, this has answered the question of, “Demolition or refurbishment which is best?”ProDEM is proud to be one of the best demolition contractors Nottingham has to offer. We take every precaution when it comes to a demolition project. This ensures that any demolition project we undertake, large or small, is performed to the strictest standards of safety.

Our highly trained, experienced team work professionally at all times.  So if you need safe, effective and affordable demolition work, get in touch with our friendly team today. You can email us here and we will get back to you as soon as we can.