VIDEO: Mount Pleasant House demolition, Cambridge

The demolition team at Mick George have begun work on the demolition of a prominent north Cambridge-based office block, dating back to the 1970s. 

The 1.4-acre site, including a 42,000 sq ft multi-let office building, is being redeveloped by Howard Osborne, a joint venture between Cambridge-based property company Howard Group and Osborne.

Bought for £10m from the Universities Superannuation Scheme, the iconic octagonal-towered building that forms one of the main gateways into the city centre will be redeveloped into modern, purpose-built accommodation for St Edmunds College.

The proposal involves demolition of the existing office building and 145 car parking spaces and replacing them with four new blocks centred around two south-facing courtyards.

The new grounds will consist of 199 en suite student rooms and 74 self-contained studios for academic staff and post-graduates, as well as cycle storage for 306 bikes, to encourage sustainable transport around the city.

The demolition works from Mick George kicks off what will be an 18-month construction programme, which is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2019.

Due to the proximity of commercial office buildings, education facilities, road networks, and residential housing, special deconstruction and demolition techniques are being used to ensure the safety of all within immediate reach of the site.

In addition, the building has been entirely wrapped, to create a visual, sound and dust barrier, further protecting against any disruption to those in the vicinity.

Michael George, contracts director at Mick George, said: “Cambridge is very much our homeland, so it is a pleasure to be working in partnership with another two family-owned local businesses, especially when community interest’ is genuinely a driving force behind their involvement with the project.”

He continued: “Like ourselves, they have a vested interest in improving the infrastructure of the county of Cambridgeshire and gearing it towards future success.”