Demolition Proper of Debenhams Building Still Months Away

Published on: 10 Sep, 2024
Updated on: 11 Sep, 2024

The Debenham’s demolition seemed to be under way on Saturday morning. Photo Fiona Giles

By Martin Giles

A small crowd gathered on Saturday morning at the Debenham’s building on Millbrook to witness what appeared to be the start of demolition work.

A digger removed the front canopy of the building to exposed the inner structure but the demolition proper is not scheduled to start until the end of the year at the earliest.

In the meantime, further work to remove the canopy on the frontage adjacent to Millbrook is anticipated once a protective hoarding has been erected.

A spokesperson for Native Land’s St Mary’s Wharf project said: “Construction work started earlier this year to deliver St Mary’s Wharf, which will bring new homes to Guildford town centre, together with riverside gardens, restaurants and business space.

“Having completed the strip out of the interior we will shortly commence basement preparation activities, ahead of demolition starting in late 2024/early 2025.

“The front canopy of the building has been removed to enable the upcoming works in the basement. We will share a further update on the demolition phase in due course, when we will target recycling at least 98 per cent of all materials removed from the site.”

A few hours later more of the canopy had gone. Photo Eddie Ward

The spokesperson added: “Key features of St Mary’s Wharf include:

Opening up the River Wey by creating public spaces including a new town square and a biodiverse landscaped riverside walk, providing direct access from the High Street to the river for the first time in 50 years.
Developing two new sustainable residential buildings with retail and restaurants at ground floor, providing 185 new private and affordable homes, shops, cafés, and bars.

A developer’s CGI of how the seven-storey St Mary’s Wharf will look.

The buildings, designed to respect the surrounding heritage of the area, will be all-electric and net zero carbon in operation.
Repurposing brownfield land to provide new, centrally located homes, helping to alleviate pressures on the surrounding Green Belt, reinvigorate the Guildford town centre and reduce car dependency.
Enhancing local biodiversity, with 50 new trees, extensive planting and green roofs.”

By Monday afternoon (September 9) further progress has been made exposing the internal skeleton of the building.

This view shows more of the exposed, cavernous interior.

Responses to Demolition Proper of Debenhams Building Still Months Away

Michael Ney Reply

September 12, 2024 at 4:51 pm

The former Debenham’s site would appear to offer unparalleled opportunities to use inland water transport for the muck-away aspects of the demolition. A trot of barges could even go below Teddington lock into the tidal Thames to suitable landfill sites.
Bibhas Neogi Reply

September 13, 2024 at 10:08 am

The Environment Agency has issued warning of flooding to those who live near the river in Guildford. Hope Native Land has taken measures to stop flood water getting into the basement now that they have removed the northern canopy as shown in the second photograph. This view shows more of the exposed, cavernous interior – a daunting task ahead of the removal of all steel and concrete inside.

Sheet-piled wall behind the building is over 60 years old and not in a good condition (given the rusting along the mean water level) and flooding could damage it further.
K White Reply

September 15, 2024 at 2:42 pm

I’m intrigued by the statement that there will be direct access from the High Street to the river. How will that be achieved? At present, there is a main road in the way, with a controlled pedestrian crossing. So, no “direct” access, in my view. Will the subway be reinstated?

Editor’s comment: The High Street continues across the Town Bridge westwards until it meets the Portsmouth Road (A3100). So direct access will be possible from that part of the High Street. We know of no plans to re-instate the subway.
Sally Parrott Reply

September 16, 2024 at 3:57 pm

I wonder if the new public riverside walkways and gardens will really be public, or perhaps owned by the owners of the building? If the latter, might the walkways and gardens soon be fenced off following any bad behaviour by some of the public, and then be solely for the use of the residents?

Guards move on anyone they choose in some “public spaces” in central London, which turn out not to be public at all.

I suspect the same may be the case in the North Street development as well. “Public”, but only if you’re not homeless, or scruffy, or “not our target public”.
Roger Main Reply

September 16, 2024 at 8:22 pm

The northern canopy has nothing to do with flooding, I was there when the original hole was cut.

We did propose a bridge into the building , but this was refused by various organisations who still protest at any change today.

As previously written. the developer has a structured plan for demolition, which I know will be closely monitored by the authorities.