Press Release

29th April 2005

Waste not… Recycling and reclamation at the new Downe Hospital

The first phase of the demolition of old buildings to make way for the new Downe Hospital has started, with careful manual removal of materials which can be re-used or recycled.

Bricks, timber, door furniture, cabling, metals, slates and stone have all been carefully removed and either stored for use on the new hospital project or sent off for re-use or recycling elsewhere.

The Trust’s environmental engineer, Robert Spence, has been working with John McQuillan Contracts Ltd and Philip McMaster, Estates manager, New Downe Hospital Project Team,to come up with a plan to make better use of materials and minimise waste.

Robert says, “This is a key component of the drive for sustainable construction. Recycled and secondary aggregates and waste can become an integral part of your building programme and help meet growing environmental pressures.”

“Down Lisburn Trust is committed to meeting these pressures head on. We are already the only trust in Northern Ireland to be fully accredited to ISO 14001, the environmental management standard. Our Trust environmental policy proves our engagement and with work now started on the new Downe Hospital, we are ensuring that our commitment to the environment and sustainability starts at the very beginning.”

“Nearly 75% of the existing buildings will be recycled, so in their own way the former stores, Cherryvalley, Maternity and Lecale will become the foundation of the new hospital.”

Where applicable, building materials will be crushed on site and become the foundations for the car park, and granite blocks which were once part of the Downpatrick Gaol have been carefully removed and stored, to be used in building features in the new hospital.

Robert concludes, “Recycling has other benefits other than environmental. Financial savings of 28% against conventional disposal means money that can now benefit patients by going into a first class new building. The aluminium, metals, glass, wood and electric cabling that once formed the structure and beat the heart of the old buildings are also all to be recycled, so perhaps a suitable epitaph for buildings that served the community so well would be, “Whole Life Cycle”.

The picture shows Robert Spence, environmental engineer, Estates Department, with Philip McMaster, Estates Manager, New Downe Hospital Project Team, with some of the reclaimed brick.

For more information ring Christina Martin 028 9250 1209 or 07980 620661