Preserving a World Heritage Site in Greenwich, UK

Greenwich, an outlying district of London, is famous for its imposing National Maritime Museum and the classical buildings of the Old Royal Naval College, which is the architectural centrepiece of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. Managed by the Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College, the ensemble of buildings and the accompanying parks contain “cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity”, according to UNESCO. Working with the registered charity, on behalf of the Royal Navy College, PA Group, an RSK company, has undertaken numerous challenging asbestos removal projects in the world-renowned heritage buildings throughout the site.

For each project, we carefully and meticulously plan: the emphasis is continually on respecting and maintaining a listed building’s originality. If working on areas previously unknown to us, we have to investigate and catalogue everything enclosed within the area. Ultimate control of a site and health and safety factors are key because of the listed nature and the occupancy of many buildings. A project’s timescale is also generally very tight, so we work in challenging circumstances with a large workforce often on 24-hour rotating shifts, which ensures deadlines are met.

PA Group personnel act as principal contractors, thereby providing site welfare and office facilities, which are maintained throughout projects. On-site, our project management team oversees all project operations. We must work very closely with both the client’s agent and its appointed independent representatives to ensure the smooth delivery of projects. Certification and communication are paramount to ensure on-site efficiency and safety. All projects to date have been delivered on budget and time with minimal disruption to site operations.

“PA Group has continually proven its professional and practical approach to working in challenging circumstances and buildings,” said Ray Faithfull, Head of Facilities and Operations at the Old Royal Naval College. “The team understands the client’s perspective and the planning required in historic buildings. I would highly recommend their services.”