AXA Sun Life
The Company
Since 1977, Axa Sun Life Plc has been providing life cover, pensions and investment solutions predominantly for the over 50s age group. Their popular Guaranteed Over 50 Plan has over 655,000 customers.
As part of its investment management portfolio, Axa Sun Life has a number of interests in commercial property throughout the UK which include mid-size multi-unit shopping centres.
The Challenge
Prior to the acquisition of a shopping centre and as part of the routine care of another, Axa Sun Life's property consultant sought asbestos surveys. Essential to the health and safety of potentially millions of people, both surveys needed to be completed with minimal disruption to staff and shoppers.
A pre-acquisition asbestos survey and risk assessment was required on The Grosvenor Shopping Centre in Macclesfield, Cheshire. This was deemed urgent to conduct the survey and process the resulting report in order to continue with the commercial terms of the acquisition.
Our Solution
Grosvenor Shopping Centre:
The centre comprised of approximately 43 units, including retail outlets, banks, a building society and a large indoor market.
Our allocated Surveyor successfully completed the asbestos survey within five days. Although this was an exhaustive survey, it was achieved successfully with minimal disturbance to staff and the public.
Recommendations were presented in an ENVACS report format. As this report formed the basis for an asbestos register for the site, a platform of asbestos management for the future has been established for Axa Sun Life.
The Chantry Centre:
The Chantry Centre is in Andover, Hampshire. Comprising in excess of 90 units. The centre's occupants at the time of the survey included Nat-West Bank, Argos, Tesco, Waitrose, Boots, The Body Shop, McDonalds, a public house, multi-storey car park, a bus station and a public library.
The asbestos survey was carried out over a period of twelve days. The report was produced identifying areas of suspected asbestos, highlighting areas of concern and priority. This report is now the basis for an asbestos register for the centre. Asbestos removal works will be instigated prior to the commencement of future refurbishment projects.
The Results
- Risk mitigation; via impartial, reliable asbestos surveys
- Cost effective; surveys conducted with minimal disruption to the Units trading
