Phase II demolition underway for open-die forging line

Phase two of a demolition project has started at Sheffield Forgemasters to make way for the UK's largest open-die forging line. Unused buildings on its north of Brightside Lane site, are being removed as the second phase of work gets underway to create space for a new 13,000-tonne heavy forge and its 12,700m² housing.

Victorian-era forge and foundry buildings will make way for the new facility, creating one of the most-efficient open-die forging operations in Europe and the largest available in the UK. The demolition will eventually expose the whole footprint of the new facility, which will dominate the skyline adjacent to the Meadowhall train line.

Much of the structure earmarked for demolition has been out of use for years, and a secure partitioning wall is in place to fully isolate working areas of the plant from the building site. Remediation works have included removing internal steel structures, stabilising the ground, pile-driving and the removal of any contaminants.

Phase two of the demolition will remove all remaining above-ground structures at the excavation site before more than 25,000m³ of spoil is excavated for foundations to support the press, with 4,500m³ of existing concrete to be crushed.

The project is governed by exacting environmental standards, with all spoil from the site graded and recycled as far as is possible. The multi-million-pounproject is estimated to see completion of the foundations in the first quarter of 2025. The new facility will service defence and commercial work in sectors such as civil nuclear power.