The demolition work will be making way for new homes, shops, streets, and community facilities.
MK Council has employed Goody Demolition Ltd to demolish the empty Agora Centre in Wolverton, Milton Keynes.
The demolition is making way for the award-winning' Love Wolverton scheme' from developers TOWN.
After years of planning and false starts, MK Council formally completed buying the site from private sector owners over the Christmas period, allowing demolition work to begin.
The demolition will allow for the ‘Love Wolverton’ project to go ahead, bringing new homes, community space, independent shops, green space and jobs into Wolverton, bolstering Wolverton’s High Street and offering a sustainable way of living.
Work is set to begin on the 9th February and will continue for 22 weeks.
In a letter to local residents, Goody Demolition Ltd explained: "Goody will use the site itself for parking of vehicles and Church Street / Radcliffe Street for vehicle movements, avoiding busy times wherever possible.
"If for any reason a vehicle has to wait before entering the site, we will ensure that this will be in an area which will not cause issues for other road users and will turn off their engine whilst waiting."
In terms of COVID-19 safety, Goody Demolition Ltd says it operates 'robust safety procedures to keep our staff and the general public safe throughout our operations'.
Contracts Manager James Wall wrote in the letter for residents: "Goody will ensure that the site has debris netting and/or screens erected around the perimeter, and will operate dust suppression and noise monitoring to reduce any environmental concerns to our neighbours.
"If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to telephone our Contracts Manager James Wall on 07921 465888 or our Site Manager Danny Wisker on 07738 403248.
"Thank you for your understanding."
Set to be delivered as part of the Love Wolverton Project includes:
- 86 new homes, with 31% being affordable housing
- Eight new shops for local businesses
- Car-free ‘little streets’ and a pocket park for residents and visitors to use
- A sustainable mobility hub, which includes an electric car club and bike hire facility
- An energy microgrid that generates two-thirds of the annual energy needs of the development on-site
Other improvements to the Town Centre will include a new town centre car park at St George’s Way to replace the former Agora car park, alongside public realm improvements and a public toilet.
Rob Middleton is the Labour Councillor for Wolverton Ward and the Cabinet Member for Resources, and has been campaigning for the regeneration for over eight years:
“This is a brilliant milestone in the regeneration of Wolverton. I have spent years consulting with residents and local businesses to find the best approach for the Town Centre’s regeneration, and I am pleased that we are finally making significant progress.
“Now that the Council owns the Agora, we can hand the keys to the developers and start work on the multi-million-pound development that will breathe new life into Wolverton, while also providing green homes and exciting spaces for independent businesses.”
He concluded: “The Love Wolverton project will completely transform the railway town, providing attractive and open areas for the community to meet. We will continue to engage with the community throughout the demolition and construction process, and I look forward to seeing the project progress.”
READ MORE: Milton Keynes Council prepares to demolish empty Agora Centre in Wolverton
