It often gets asked, “What are the long term benefits of demolition?”. Demolition sites often have a bad reputation for being noisy and an eyesore to walk past each day. However, these are very short term implications for what can be a process to begin again, to renew and regenerate our cities. Especially if you consider that demolition doesn’t necessarily have to involve heavy machinery.
Long Term Benefits of Demolition
In the long term, there are only benefits to demolishing outdated buildings. Many buildings in our inner cities are often derelict and take up space that could be put to better use. A shocking number of potential homes in the UK are empty. This is the highest it’s been for 20 years. This could go a long way to solving the increasing homelessness problems faced by UK cities.
As well as pressing concerns over providing housing and spaces to live and work for our inhabitants, it is clear our world is becoming increasingly based online. This creates new challenges for our towns and cities, as online shopping begins to take over.
Regenerated City Centres
In addition to residential developments and demolishments, councils are increasingly beginning to regenerate outdated shopping centres. This in turn means that they offer more than just a place to shop or a route to work. Projects such as the Broadmarsh shopping centre in Nottingham and the Highcross in Leicester come at a key time.
The demolishment of Nottingham’s Broadmarsh shopping centre was a major undertaking. This led to diversions to pedestrian and bus routes causing disruption for commuters.
However, as the Nottingham Post pointed out, for some people, the regeneration couldn’t have been completed soon enough. As a city home to two universities with impressive reputations as well as a hub for music, fashion and nightlife, it’s more important than ever to continue to revitalise and move the city forward.
Environmental Impact
From an environmental perspective, it makes a lot of sense to redevelop or rebuild our existing brownfield sites; as world populations increase, it is imperative to preserve our green spaces for the enjoyment (and health) of future generations.
Similarly, Leicester has undergone some major changes in the heart of the city, such as its redevelopment of shops in the city centre. It’s unclear at this point whether they’ll be demolished or built into something new, but whatever the outcome, it seems the East Midlands is being developed into a place to live and work to rival the rest of the UK.
If cities aren’t regenerated and planned smartly for the future, it’s no surprise that employees, jobs and businesses alike start to look outward to other regions. It’s factors like soaring rent prices, and a resulting lower quality of living, which is causing London to lose its young people (millennials) ‘in record numbers, according to The Guardian.
Demolition plays a key part in creating the healthier and more environmentally friendly cities we’ll know in the future. Over the last 200 years, we have grown used to the grey concrete, heavy traffic and illogical road systems of our cities. However going forward, there is no reason to continue to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Contact Us
ProDEM is proud to be one of the premier demolition contractors in Nottingham. We take a comprehensive approach to all aspects of demolition. All of our staff are fully qualified, which means that you can be confident in a successful job every time.
So for more information call us on the number below or e-mail us here.