FDS were awarded the trade subcontract to complete the strip out of this 171 bedroom hotel in RBKC. The building itself comprised of 7 terraced houses that had been fused together through structural aperture, meaning working space was restricted and egress for materials quite tight. The works themselves included the removal of all ceilings, fire board, M&E, carpets, joinery, modern partitions, dry lining, wallpaper, basement screed and wet plaster.
The older sections of the hotel had very robust fit outs, with varieties of ceiling heights and void sizes. Thus, strip out of these areas had to be done over several passes with different access equipment each time. Various sections were uncovered to show corrosion and warping within the existing timber structures, meaning the team stripping out had to constantly adapt sequencing to maintain the integrity of what they were removing from a safety perspective.
Egress for materials was also restricted by narrow pavements and lack of level access to street level. FDS made use of a scaffold hoist and gantry to mitigate some of this, whilst other materials were ramped to street level and collected on a different elevation of the site.
FDS worked with a displaced people’s charity to send all the bedroom and front of house furniture to areas that have been affected by recent conflicts. These items were prioritised in order of demand intensity in the affected areas. FDS transported these items to Littlehampton on the South Coast and organised the storage and organisation of the items before they were collected by international hauliers.
This project has thrown up some unfamiliar workflows for FDS. The discovery of cementitious ‘pugging’ within the floor voids represented a significant fire strategy shift for our client. Removing over 3000m2 of it brought our dust control measures firmly under the microscope. Through careful planning and communication, these control measures were implemented without impacting access and egress, or common parts of the site.
If you would like to find out how First Demolition can help you please send an enquiry via the form below.
Address: 64 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7JF
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8088 2539
Email: operations@firstdemolition.co.uk
We’re probably better defined by what we don’t cover — yet. That would be nuclear, rail and marine, where we don’t currently have the depth of experience required to properly guide a project. Across all other sectors, we bring extensive experience and a proven track record.
Yes. A significant portion of our work takes place in live environments — from partially occupied office buildings, to schools, hotels and museums. Each setting brings its own considerations. Over time, we’ve developed practical approaches to minimise disruption, maintain safety, and manage the impact of our works on surrounding areas and stakeholders.
We take a proactive approach from the outset. During tender stage, we flag potential risks based on experience and precedent, and where possible, recommend exploratory works to reduce uncertainty before the project begins. Where this isn’t feasible, we provide guidance on likely impacts — allowing clients to plan for time and cost contingencies with greater confidence. We operate transparently and with a strong understanding of contractual obligations, ensuring a fair and considered approach throughout.
We see our role as more than delivery. We work closely with clients and consultant teams to navigate challenges as they arise. This can include supporting early-stage planning, contributing to feasibility exercises, or helping shape the approach before works begin. We’re also well connected, and are always happy to introduce trusted partners where additional expertise is needed.
We operate an integrated management system certified by BSI to ISO 45001 and ISO 9001 standards. Beyond compliance, we focus on how standards are applied in practice — from highly trained teams to clear, visual methods on site. We’ve also developed our own tools and initiatives to improve communication, reporting and environmental performance across our projects.
Today — because the earlier we’re involved, the more we can influence the outcome.
