Guardian Properties
The Company
Guardian Properties, as the incumbent owners, were responsible for the management of the entire site at The Covent Garden Market.
At The Covent Garden Market, the main building dates from 1830. Since then, the market has undergone a transformation from an open piazza to an enclosed market providing lucrative trading opportunities for a wide range of retail and leisure businesses.
Almost one million people visit the world famous market, every week, providing a stream of income. In 1988 the Convent Garden Area Trust was set up enabled with powers, under its 150 year lease, to ensure the ongoing long term architectural conservation and economic success of this famous and important landmark.
The Challenge
Guardian Properties required an asbestos survey to be carried out across the market. Several complexities with the site needed to be overcome by careful planning and expertise. The site is a conservation area and the footfall of roughly one million people per week means that gaining access to all aspects is logistically difficult.
Our Solution
Life Environmental were selected by Guardian Properties to conduct the survey. Our experience of conducting surveys in busy retail and leisure environments, in addition to handling historical buildings sympathetically, is exemplary.
The first stage in our solution was to agree the main objectives of the survey with Guardian Properties:
- Ascertain the presence of Asbestos Containing Materials
- Produce a report to identify areas of suspected asbestos
- Provide the basis for an asbestos register for the site
- Instigate asbestos remedial works prior to the commencement of future projects, highlighting areas of concern and specifically those requiring urgent attention.
At the time of conducting the survey, The Market's basement, ground floor and first floor consisted of the pub 'Punch and Judy', as well as many retail outlets, such as The Body Shop, Haagen Daz, Thorntons, Banana Bookshop, Peter Rabbit, 'Chez Gerrard' - Opera Terrace, World of Lace, Crusting Pipe, C Comme Ca, plus many more.
We are immensely proud that the survey was successfully carried out over five days with little or no disturbance to the occupants of the units.
The Results
Our survey identified that some asbestos was present and this was highlighted in the report together with the necessary action. Remedial removal work has been completed where necessary and the register updated.
- Risk mitigation; accurate identification of risk and clear indication of necessary action
- Cost effective; limited impact to daily trading
- Value add; Guardian Properties contributed to the objectives of the Convent Garden Area Trust via impartial and accurate survey
