Key Facts
Client: Veolia
AIS Group: Ainscough Industrial Services (Major Projects department) and AIS Flegg Projects
Sector: Waste management/ Nuclear
Location: Abingdon, UK
Value: £355,000
Scope: CDM project management
Dilapidation of an industrial test facility after 30 years of being operational
Veolia Nuclear Solutions required the complete dilapidation and restoration of a former industrial test facility in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, prior to handing the property back to the landlord.
The facility had operated for around 30 years and consisted of warehouse, testing and office areas. Over time, the building had undergone numerous modifications, including the installation of mezzanine floors, a large internal test pit and specialist equipment.
The project involved not only clearing the facility but also managing a complex programme of refurbishment works to return the building to the landlord’s required specification. This included structural alterations, civil engineering works, building repairs and compliance testing.
Effective project management and CDM oversight
Initially, AIS Flegg Projects was engaged to support the dismantling and clearance of the former test facility as part of Veolia Nuclear Solutions’ wider landlord handback programme.
As the project progressed, the AIS Group’s Major Projects department was brought in to provide CDM leadership and coordinate the wider programme of dilapidation works.
Acting as Principal Contractor, AIS managed multiple specialist subcontractors, ensuring appropriate RAMS, certifications, permits and safety procedures were in place throughout the project. The team oversaw a broad range of refurbishment and reinstatement activities, maintaining compliance with statutory requirements while ensuring works were delivered safely and efficiently.
One of the most significant elements of the programme was the reinstatement of a large internal test pit. Due to the landlord’s strict specification requirements, AIS engaged civil engineering contractors to design and deliver the works. The pit was infilled using engineered materials and approximately five tonnes of reinforcement steel (rebar), creating a permanent solution.
Through effective project management and CDM oversight, AIS coordinated multiple contractors and workstreams safely, maintaining compliance throughout the programme and enabling Veolia Nuclear Solutions to successfully hand back the facility following more than 30 years of occupation.