ONE of Derby's most historic and well-known buildings will soon be no more.
Work has begun to demolish and clear the old Derbyshire Royal Infirmary – and the project is being carried out by a Derby-based company creating jobs for people in the city.
The site has been largely derelict since most of the services were moved out of the London Road building in 2009.
And the long-awaited demolition work began yesterday with the destruction of the link corridor between the old buildings and the remaining London Road Community Hospital.
Construction and demolition company Cawarden, based in Scotland Farm, Ockbrook, is under contract to demolish and clear the site ahead of development.
The firm, run by William Crooks, hires 90% of its employees from Derby – mainly the Chaddesden and Alvaston areas.
Site manager Scott Iceton, 30, of Chaddesden, was over the moon when he was told he had been chosen to oversee the project.
He said: "I was privileged when I got the phone call to come down.
"I have been putting a lot of hard work in and it's nice to see that has been recognised and I have been given the opportunity to do such a big job. I'm very proud."
Contacts manager Malcolm Lowes was keen to stress that Cawarden could provide job opportunities for people in the area.
He added: "All of these lads here are from Derby.
"Projects like this generate a lot of work for the area.
"The company is a real family business with a great atmosphere.
"I look forward to coming to work in the morning."
Director Mr Crooks said: "We have already recruited four more guys and are looking for 10 to 15 more.
"This is great for the firm because these lads all grew up in and around the city and the majority of them will have an association with the old hospital."
Derrick Conway, estate director at Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, saw the opening stages of the work carried out.
He said: "We have been doing a lot of work preparing the site for clearing and destruction.
"This day is quite a landmark as we have got to the point of the demolition of this part of the hospital, which is important as it connects the old building with the remaining hospital.
"That separation is quite a poignant moment."
What will happen with the site has not yet been announced but Mr Conway said negotiations with housing developers were under way.
Cawarden is only contracted to clear the site and turn it into a usable brownfield site.
And Mr Conway claimed it was vital to redevelop city sites like the DRI rather than build on greenfield land.
He added: "I think it's important to sort out the brownfield sites before we look at building on greenfields, otherwise the city will end up empty where things have moved and not been replaced.
"We will just be creating rings around a disused centre."
