Strict criteria for explosive demolition - Sutton

11:00 am on 6 August 2012

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority says quake-damaged properties - whose owners hope they can be demolished by explosives - will have to meet strict criteria.

The explosives specialist who levelled Radio Network House in Christchurch on Sunday believes other buildings may be able to be demolished in the same way.

But the head of the authority, Roger Sutton, says very few in the city would be likely candidates. He says a building has to be safe enough for people to go in to lay charges and it cannot damage other buildings as it falls.

However Mr Sutton says he's happy for property owners to talk to the authority about the possibility of explosive demolition.