Livestream via drone for Newcastle demolition
Hexham House will come down on Saturday morning
In a first for Newcastle, the controlled explosion of Hexham House including exclusive drone footage will be live streamed as 15 storey building is brought to the ground.
Originally completed in 1968, the 43 metre high building will be the first in the city demolished in a controlled explosion since Sir Bobby Robson pressed the button on the old Newcastle Breweries building in 2008. This time a team of three youngsters from Walker will get the demolition underway after entering a competition to win this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Residents living near to Hexham House have been asked to leave their properties by 10.30 on Saturday with an exclusion zone being set up to make sure the demolition can happen safely.
The council are also asking the public to stay away from area and instead watch the blow-down from the comfort of their own homes.
The demolition of Hexham House is part of the council’s plans for the regeneration of Walker and will pave the way for up to 50 new affordable homes including some accessible properties. Full plans are still to be confirmed but the new homes will be built with energy efficiency in mind to help deliver more cleaner, greener homes in the city.
As part of the wider redevelopment of the area the council is also planning to demolish the low-rise flats and shops in Church Walk which have been empty for some time.
Councillor Paula Maines, Cabinet Member for Housing at Newcastle City Council, said: “We know there is a lot of interest in seeing Hexham House demolished but safety must be our first concern which is why I am delighted that we are live streaming the event.
“The cameras, including the one on the drone, will be able to capture the blow-down from every angle. This will offer the best possible views of the demolition as it happens and all without the need to venture out into the cold.
“We have exciting plans for Walker and I am really looking forward to seeing the regeneration of Walker as it moves forward.”
Nick Shilling, Managing Director at Thompsons of Prudhoe said “We are thrilled to be a part of this significant project with Newcastle City Council.
"By carefully dismantling this outdated structure, we’re creating a blank canvas for new developments that will better serve the community. We’re proud to bring our decades of experience to bear on this project, ensuring it’s carried out with the utmost attention to safety, efficiency, and environmental considerations.
"We hope everyone can enjoy watching the event using the live stream and remind people to please follow any safety protocols given around the site."
The link to the live stream will be shared on the council’s social media.