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Contractors at a site in Manchester city centre where a building dramatically collapsed last week have issued a statement. Part of the Alberton House building off Bridge Street partially collapsed during demolition work last Friday (October 24). One person who works nearby said at the time there was a 'strong earthquake like feeling' and that surrounding buildings were quickly evacuated as the air filled with clouds of dust and parts of scaffolding fell to the ground. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE Fire crews also raced to the scene along with the council's Building Control team that said it was 'engaging with the owners', Bruntwood SciTech. At the time, George Jones, founder and owner of Cardinal House next door, said: "We've had to evacuate, about 500 people have had to go for the day, I’ve got multiple businesses in here. We were aware of the renovations for sometime, but never been told that we would be in fear of safety or need to evacuate "It felt and sounded like an earthquake. People have left because they don’t feel safe. When we went around afterwards to speak to the workmen and they told us to evacuate the building. "The scaffolding fell in the river and building was moving. I bought his building and turned it into a business centre a couple of years ago. When I went outside it looked like all smoke." Another witness added: “We were shaking and we didn’t know if the building was coming down, then we saw the plumes of dust." Owners Bruntwood SciTech previously released a statement confirming there had been a partial collapse but insisting there was 'no risk' to workers on site or the general public. In a new statement, a spokesperson for PP O'Connor, the contractors on site, said the partial collapse occurred 'due to a defect in the existing structure' and that contingency arrangements had been put in place including an exclusion zone. "At approximately 2pm on Friday 24 October, during the scheduled demolition of Alberton House, there was a partial collapse due to a defect in the existing structure discovered earlier in the week," the statement to the M.E.N read. "Contingency arrangements were put in place for the potential collapse, including a strict exclusion zone, and there have been no injuries to our workforce or members of the public. "The resulting debris associated with the collapse was fully contained within the footprint of the site. We are in dialogue with the Health and Safety Executive, Building Control and independent structural engineers as we continue to make the site safe and progress with the planned demolition." Manchester city council gave planning approval for the ambitious redevelopment of the site in 2022 with work scheduled to start the following year. But in June, planners approved an amendment to the original plan to allow it to be delivered in two phases instead of one, first to demolish the current structure before later 'enabling works'. After the partial collapse, the council confirmed that there was 'no ongoing threat to public safety' and that materials didn't leave the compound site, with evacuations carried out as a precaution. The Health and Safety Executive has been approached for further comment. --- Day in day out, our reporters in the Manchester Evening News newsroom bring you remarkable stories from all aspects of Mancunian life. However, with the pace of life these days, the frenetic news agenda and social media algorithms, you might not be getting a chance to read it. That's why every week our Features and Perspectives editor Rob Williams brings you Unmissable , highlighting the best of what we do - bringing it to you directly from us. Make sure you don't miss out, and see what else we have to offer, by clicking here and signing up for MEN Daily News. And be sure to join our politics writer Jo Timan every Sunday for his essential commentary on what matters most to you in Greater Manchester each week in our newsletter Due North. You can also sign up for that here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to see everything we offer, including everything from breaking news to Coronation Street . If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our news desk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you'll be the first to hear about it. And finally, if there is a story you think our journalists should be looking into, we want to hear from you. Email us on newsdesk@men-news.co.uk or give us a ring on 0161 211 2920.
