As part of the comprehensive redevelopment of the Portslade brewery site, the obsolete brewery building was designated for repurposing, along with the construction of new residential housing blocks throughout the site. This ambitious project required the demolition of various extensions and additional structures that had been incrementally added to the original building over several decades. These additions, which were no longer viable for the planned new design, had to be removed to restore the site and allow for the redesign of the main brewery structure in a way that preserved its architectural character whilst accommodating modern usage.
The primary brewery building was an imposing five-storey structure, characteristic of Victorian heavy-industrial architecture, and was constructed using robust brick and steel materials. Its architectural details included brick walls two to three layers thick, concrete floor slabs, and large, compound riveted steel beams that contributed to its durable framework. The roof was flat and made of concrete, reinforcing the building’s solid industrial aesthetic. Over time, several extensions had been added around the main building, each reflecting different construction techniques and materials. These additions included concrete shafts built externally for staircases, traditional brick and concrete structures, and steel-framed barn-like outbuildings. To prepare the site for redevelopment, all these supplementary structures required demolition down to ground slab level, and both the ground-bearing slabs and original foundations needed to be removed.
Due to the varied construction methods used across these extensions, dismantling them safely required extensive planning. The disparate materials and building techniques created unique challenges in maintaining structural stability throughout the demolition. Temporary structural supports were essential to prevent collapse, not only in the main brewery building but also within the extensions during the process of separation and removal. Specialised scaffolding and support systems were devised and implemented by a team of engineers and scaffold designers. They installed kentledge (counterweights) to secure the scaffolding and ensure stability. To initiate the demolition, these structures were meticulously separated from the main building using saws and hand-cutting tools, which allowed for precise disconnection. Once isolated, high-reach demolition machinery was used to carefully dismantle the sections piece by piece.
Inside the main brewery building, an initial “soft strip” process removed all non-structural elements that had accumulated over the years. This included removing any non-load-bearing walls, fixtures, and fittings. Additionally, back-propping was installed beneath the concrete slabs to support them during the demolition of nearby sections. Robotic demolition equipment was employed for sections that required precision, particularly where structural integrity was essential to maintain for the eventual construction. Temporary support installations were carefully positioned to ensure that both the old brewery structure and the newly constructed elements could be securely integrated.
Environmental considerations were also central to this project. All materials resulting from the demolition were carefully sorted on-site into distinct waste streams, maximising recycling and minimising waste. Concrete and hardcore materials were crushed on-site and repurposed as part of the foundations and substructure for the new housing developments. This not only minimised waste but also contributed to a more sustainable construction process, aligning with modern environmental standards and helping to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the redevelopment project.
In sum, the Portslade brewery redevelopment presented a complex, multi-faceted demolition and repurposing challenge, requiring innovative engineering solutions and careful planning to preserve the historic integrity of the main building while setting the stage for modern housing and community development.
