BUILDING work is now well under way to restore a Grade II-Listed structure dating back to 1882 in North Tyneside.

Glazing is being fitted into the restored Victorian canopies at Tynemouth Metro station, as part of a £3m facelift to the station. The project is relying on a workforce of 50 people every day.

Rider Hunt, Newcastle-based construction consultants and chartered quantity surveyors, is working on behalf of the Station Developments Limited as a key health and safety risk management advisor on the scheme.

Andrew Dawson, partner at Rider Hunt, said: “Health and safety management is a major component of our involvement in this project as construction design and management (CDM) coordinators. There are a number of factors which are pivotal to the process of the restoration work, particularly during the current phase of works of fitting the glass into the canopies.”

Mike Steele, operations director for Mansell, principal contractor for the project, said: “Sections of the canopies and pedestrian foot bridge are located extremely close to, or over, the Metro’s overhead electrification equipment. This has required operative trackside training, careful planning and close collaboration with the Nexus team to enable restoration activities, including the critical canopy re-glazing, to be undertaken safely overnight when the lines are not in operation.”

Rider Hunt, who have been working with the project design teams, Latham Architects and Gifford Consulting Engineers prior to construction, as well as Mansell during construction, have been tasked with the role of creating a safe environment for both workers and station users during construction and after the work is completed.

The derelict condition of the canopies at Tynemouth Station was such that the area has been placed on the English Heritage Buildings at Risk register, prompting much of the funding for the restoration work to be funded by English Heritage.