Futurist handed over ahead of demolition
Contractor takes possession of theatre ahead of start date
The project to demolish the Futurist theatre and adjoining buildings in Scarborough South Bay and carry out associated slope stabilisation works will get under way by the beginning of March 2018.
The contractor, Willmott Dixon, will undertake the project on behalf of Scarborough Borough Council and this week the company took formal possession of the site.
Between now and the end of February, Willmott Dixon will set up its infrastructure and people will see hoardings appear around the perimeter of the site.
Work will start on the demolition phase of the project by early March and together with the slope stabilisation works, the project will take approximately 13 months to complete.
The stability of the cliff behind the Futurist is the number one priority for the council and Willmott Dixon.
The demolition plan that will be adopted has been created following expert analysis of the risks in great detail and establishing methods to mitigate them.
As a result of the plan, Willmott Dixon will be taking a careful, phased approach to the demolition, where the buildings will be brought down bit by bit.
Andrew Geldard, spokesperson for Willmott Dixon in Yorkshire, said: “With any major engineering project, there is a certain amount of preparation required before any other work can begin, so during the next couple of months people should expect to see the various activities associated with the setting up of the site.
“We have a successful history of delivering projects in Scarborough, most notably Scarborough Sports Village and the new ground for Scarborough Athletic Football Club, as well as the new campuses for Scarborough University Technical College and Coventry University Scarborough Campus, which have all played a key part in the regeneration of the area.
“We hope that our involvement in this new project in the heart of the town will help to pave the way for a positive future for this prominent South Bay site.”
Cllr Mike Cockerill, Scarborough Council cabinet member for major projects, said: “After our recent successful partnership with Willmott Dixon on the Scarborough Sports Village development, we are very pleased to be joining forces with them again.
“We will be working with the site team during the course of the demolition and slope stabilisation project to ensure that the impact of the works on the surrounding area is kept to a minimum and that regular communications with neighbouring residents and businesses are maintained.”
From now the council owned public car park in King Street is part of the Willmott Dixon site compound and will no longer function as a car park.
Information on nearby alternative car parks can be found at scarborough.gov.uk/ parking.
A spokesman for the council added: “The council continues to liaise with Flamingo Land on its exciting proposals for a new tourist attraction to be developed on the site in the future.”
The vote to demolish the Futurist was granted by just a single vote, with the full planning application to raze the building getting approval last month.
The project will take approximately 13 months to complete