Bennetts has supplied two specialist tower cranes to support the construction of two care home developments in Hampshire for Feltham Construction, helping to safely manage complex lifting operations across constrained low-rise sites.
The projects at Anavo Care Homes in Havant and Assheton Court in Portchester required carefully planned crane solutions to overcome restricted footprints, surrounding residential properties, public areas and challenging ground conditions, all while maintaining efficient lifting coverage throughout the build programmes.
The projects continue a long-standing working relationship between Bennetts and Feltham Construction, with previous projects including Darcy House at College Fields, Woodstock Road in Oxford, Radley College in Abingdon and Bath Road in Slough.
Developing practical lifting strategies for low-rise construction
Although lower-rise developments may not require the height associated with high-rise tower blocks, they can still present highly technical lifting challenges.
Restricted working areas, neighbouring properties, mature trees and public access routes all need to be considered when selecting the correct crane configuration and positioning.
For both projects, Bennetts worked closely with Feltham Construction during the planning stages to develop lifting strategies that balanced operational efficiency, safety and site constraints.
Delivering a workable crane solution at Anavo Care Homes
Bennetts supplied a Jost 216 luffing jib crane to support the construction of the eco-friendly care facility. One of the key lifting requirements in this project involved placing 2.2 tonne pre-cast stair sections into the corners of the building, requiring both reach and precise lifting control.
The number of mature trees surrounding the site was also an issue, so Bennetts proposed a luffing jib crane, allowing the site team to maintain the required lifting coverage while keeping the crane height lower and more manageable within the surrounding environment.
Both erection and dismantling operations were completed from the existing road running through the site using a 130-tonne mobile crane. The sloping road introduced additional logistical challenges during the crane assembly process, which was overcome by connecting some of the crane parts further down the road, before moving whole pieces up the slope and into place for installation The same carefully planned process had to be repeated in reverse for the dismantle.
Managing lifting operations at Assheton Court
At the Assheton Court development, Bennetts supplied a Jost 158 luffing jib crane configured with a 50m jib and 18m tower. The crane was positioned as centrally as possible within the site footprint to maximise lifting coverage, particularly into the western corner of the build area.
As with the Havant development, a luffing jib crane was selected due to surrounding site restrictions.
The crane could not oversail neighbouring residential properties located to the rear and western boundary of the site, making a luffer the perfect choice.
To further support safe operation, the crane was fitted with a zoning system designed to prevent lifting operations over nearby residential areas to the rear and east of the development.
Coordinating crane operations within a live public environment
One of the key challenges at Assheton Court involved safely managing the crane between lifting operations and the surrounding public area. Both the crane erection and dismantle were required to take place from a public car park using a 300-tonne mobile crane.
Careful traffic management and coordination measures were required throughout the operation, particularly while delivery vehicles and the mobile crane reversed into public areas.
An exclusion zone was implemented to maintain safe working conditions during the lifting operations, while still allowing sections of the public car park to remain operational throughout the works.
Supporting safe lifting operations throughout the project lifecycle
In addition to crane supply, Bennetts provided a non-resident Appointed Person (AP) on both developments to oversee lifting operations and support ongoing compliance throughout the projects.
The Appointed Person is responsible for producing project-specific lift plans and formally briefing lifting teams to ensure all operations are carried out in accordance with agreed procedures.
Monthly site audits are also undertaken to monitor compliance and maintain operational standards across the projects.
These audits include checks to ensure:
- Lift plans are being correctly followed on site
- Tower crane documentation and records remain fully up to date
- Lifting accessory certification remains valid
- Overall lifting operations continue to meet project requirements and safety standards
Supporting complex construction projects with tailored crane solutions
From restricted residential developments to environmentally sensitive sites, low-rise projects often require highly tailored lifting strategies.
By working closely with contractors during the early planning stages, Bennetts helps ensure crane selection, positioning and operational planning are aligned with the practical demands of the site from the outset.
Do you have a low-rise development you need lifting support for?
