This page provides general practical guidance and does not replace project-specific legal, engineering, planning, ecological, asbestos or waste advice.
The short answer
The preparation required before demolition starts is often more involved than the physical work itself. The exact steps depend on the project — a straightforward garage demolition has a shorter pre-start checklist than a partial house demolition in a conservation area — but the principle is the same: establish what is being removed and retained, identify the constraints, and resolve them before mobilisation rather than after.
Why it matters
Pre-start steps that are identified late tend to become programme problems. Asbestos surveys, statutory notices, service disconnections and ecology assessments all have lead times. If they are not identified until the programme is already fixed, they either delay the start date or create pressure to cut corners. A systematic pre-start review prevents this.
Information that may be needed
Drawings, structural information, asbestos records, service information, planning correspondence, ecology reports, party wall documentation and the required handover condition may all be relevant. The documents needed depend on the project — a simple strip-out requires less than a full demolition with retained elements.
What can affect the scope
The structure, location, designations, retained elements, service status, access, waste route, ecology, tree constraints, programme and the next contractor's requirements all affect what pre-start steps are needed and how long they take.
When specialist input may be needed
A structural engineer, asbestos professional, ecologist, arboriculturalist, party wall surveyor, utility provider or planning professional may be required depending on the project. Identifying which specialists are needed early allows their lead times to be built into the programme.