Leale's Yard demolition to begin in September
- Demolition of buildings at Leale's Yard will begin in September and continue into spring 2027
- Rok Limited will carry out controlled demolition in small groups, with continuous monitoring of dust, noise and vibration
- Soft strip phase supervised by ecologists will allow birds and bats to leave buildings naturally
- All facing granite will be stockpiled for reuse, with stone and inert materials crushed for future projects
- Site investigations during demolition will inform second stage involving removal of building slabs and contaminated soil
The demolition of buildings at Leale's Yard will begin in September and continue into the spring.
The first of two demolition stages will involve removing buildings down to ground level, with pre-construction works beginning this month to prepare the site.
Rok Limited has been awarded the contract for the demolition works, which will be carried out in a way to minimise disruption to nearby residents and businesses. The company will monitor dust, noise and vibration levels throughout the operation.
The demolition will begin with a soft strip phase, where elements such as roof coverings, fascias, soffits, windows and doors will be removed by hand. This work will be supervised by ecologists to ensure birds and bats can leave the buildings naturally without being disturbed or harmed by machinery.
Building demolition will then be undertaken in small groups at a time. Structures will be dismantled from the top down using machinery rather than allowing them to collapse and generate excessive dust. All buildings will be damped down with water to help prevent dust spreading into the air.
All facing granite, including lintels and quoins, will be separately stockpiled for potential reuse on future projects. Stone and other inert materials will be crushed and stockpiled for future reuse. Following demolition, final snagging works, site clearance and decommissioning of temporary facilities will be completed.
While the first stage of demolition takes place, site investigations will be carried out to prepare for a further stage of demolition. These investigations will provide a better understanding of below-ground conditions to provide greater certainty about possible costs.
The second stage of demolition would involve removal of building slabs, some of which may be reused in future development, any contaminated soil, below-ground obstructions and capping of utilities. This would provide a flat and safe site ready for development.
Demolition is just one of several pieces of work needed to clear the site and prepare it for development. Ecological surveys are continuing to progress on the site to ensure clearance is carried out in an environmentally considerate way, with ecologists due to be present during demolition.
Experts in master planning are also expected to be appointed soon following a competitive tender process that took place earlier this year. This will set out a clear plan for how Leale's Yard and nearby sites owned by the Guernsey Housing Association can be developed including consideration of the overall site layout, community spaces and transport links.
Deputy Yvonne Burford, Vice-President of the Policy & Resources Committee, said: "Since purchasing Leale's Yard last year, significant progress has been made in the background to get us to where we are today, ready to start demolition of the many structures on the site."
She added: "We are ensuring that the demolition process is done in such a way that it minimises noise, dust and general disturbance to residents and businesses in the area, and that it is sympathetic to wildlife. Additionally, there will be a focus on management of materials, such as stockpiling good quality granite stone, quoins and lintels and crushing other stone and inert material for future reuse. We will continue to update islanders on this exciting project as it progresses."
The Guernsey Retail Group has welcomed news that demolition work will begin.
It has called for greater emphasis on economic growth, stating that developing a key plot such as Leale's Yard will encourage investment and support local business.
The group noted that investment is already being realised around the Bridge, with the Home Bargains site on Northside nearing completion and planned work to redevelop buildings on Commercial Road. The Leale's Yard development will contribute to future economic activity in the north of the island, it said.
However, the retail group has urged that the development should form part of a wider programme of regeneration around St Sampson's Harbour and the Bridge area.
The organisation said creating an attractive, vibrant and fully accessible harbour district with improved public spaces, connectivity and amenities would help cement the Bridge's position as a thriving secondary shopping hub that complements St Peter Port while serving northern parish communities.
Realising this vision would encourage further private investment, strengthen local businesses and create a destination that residents and visitors alike can enjoy, the group added.
Q&A
Q: When will demolition at Leale's Yard begin?
A: Demolition will begin in September this year, with pre-construction works starting in July. The demolition is expected to continue into spring 2027.
Q: How will wildlife be protected during demolition?
A: A soft strip phase will be supervised by ecologists, allowing birds and bats to leave the buildings naturally without being disturbed or harmed by machinery. Ecologists will be on site throughout the demolition process.
Q: What will happen to materials from the demolished buildings?
A: All facing granite, including lintels and quoins, will be separately stockpiled for potential reuse on future projects. Stone and other inert materials will be crushed and stockpiled for future reuse.
Comments ()