This will be the largest of HMRC's regional centres. Credit: via Avison Young

Second tower crane on site at Pilgrim’s Quarter

19 September 2023 07:55 Neil Tague Comments (0)

The crane will service two cores and share steelwork erection over the whole site as contractor Bowmer + Kirkland progresses delivery of the 463,000 sq ft HMRC super-campus in Newcastle.

The crane comprises a 66m mast supporting a 60m jib. The work it will cover includes the infill steelwork tying in the retained Carliol House façade on Market Street.

Carliol House was the final building to be demolished at the site, with developer Karas Properties and a professional team including architect Ryder and engineer Cundall delivering one of the UK’s largest façade retention schemes, at 130m long and ten storeys high.

A car park, a cinema, office buildings and the interior of Carliol House were all demolished as part of the office project at Pilgrim’s Quarter, which will stand at between six and nine storeys tall and wrap around Pilgrim Street, Market Street, New Bridge Street West and John Dobson Street.

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Marc Gill, HMRC senior sponsor for the North East, said: “We continue to be hugely impressed with progress on the Pilgrim’s Quarter development, and the arrival of TC2 on site moves us one step closer on our journey.”

“Pilgrim’s Quarter will provide HMRC with some of the best facilities the department has to offer, co-locating thousands of high-quality government careers here in the heart of Newcastle, as well as boosting the local economy.”

Chris Turnbull, principal at project manager, planner and commercial advisor Avison Young, added: “We are delighted to be on programme despite the significant challenges of demolition works, a major sewer diversion, extensive façade retention work and piling adjacent to the Metro line tunnels.

“The arrival of the second tower crane will enable the completion of the above ground construction works on the project.”

Michael Johansen, construction director at B+K, said: “The month of August saw the completion of the demolition to Carliol House and the erection of our second tower crane, these are two major landmarks in the projects build programme.

“I am very proud of the way our fantastic team manage their way through such challenges on such a logistically challenging scheme. We can’t wait to continue this journey to deliver what will be such an iconic building for our much-loved region. “