The council had to take legal action to force the building’s owners, Bizzy B, to demolish Billingham House.
Mastertons has drafted in a 70t hi-reach from P P O’ Connor to carry out the big demolition job on the 36m high derelict office block.
The demolition process is expected to continue until the end of the year, although Mastertons hope to have the main block down in as little as two weeks.
Plans by owner Bizzy B Management to turn the building into flats fell through in 2007. At present there is no development plan for the site