Bennetts Cranes recently supplied a Saez SL 320 tower crane to McAleer & Rushe to manage the heavy lifting requirements at the Vita Student New Waverley development on Calton Road in Edinburgh.
Part of the wider £240 million New Waverley mixed-use regeneration project, the 267-bed purpose-built student accommodation scheme sits in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town within a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once complete, the development will provide studio apartments, cluster rooms, a gym, and dedicated social and study spaces. Working in a busy, historically sensitive city centre location, close to Network Rail infrastructure and neighbouring buildings, meant careful planning was essential from the outset.
Installed in November 2024, the Saez SL 320 was configured with a 50m jib and 30m tower to meet the project’s lifting requirements while accommodating the site’s operational constraints. With a safe working load of 4.5 tonnes at 50m and a maximum safe working load of 13.5 tonnes, the crane was used throughout the project to lift concrete, reinforcement bar (rebar) and general construction materials.
Working alongside Network Rail infrastructure
Working adjacent to Network Rail brought additional considerations. The tower crane was de-rated to meet Network Rail requirements, while AMCS zoning was implemented as a secondary measure to prevent loads travelling beyond the site boundary. Bennetts also secured manufacturer approval to reduce the crane’s out-of-service radius to 16 metres, helping prevent oversailing of neighbouring properties when the crane was left in free slew.
Projects close to operational rail infrastructure require detailed planning from the earliest stages. Bennetts works closely with contractors to provide expert guidance on crane selection, site visits, lift planning and documentation, helping ensure lifting operations can be carried out safely while meeting Network Rail requirements. This includes assessing ground conditions, considering increased base loadings where required, applying slew restrictions and developing lifting strategies that prioritise health and safety.
Planning the crane erection and dismantling
Installing and dismantling the crane both presented their own challenges. With only nine days until the planned road closure, the Bennetts team had to work quickly with the contractor to plan and complete the crane erection safely. Due to the site’s proximity to Network Rail, the mobile crane used for both erection and dismantling was also restricted to operating at 75% of its lifting capacity.
When it came to dismantling, a road closure was again required, with a 450-tonne mobile crane positioned 46 metres from the tower crane. Because underground services beneath the road could not withstand the crane’s loadings, Bennetts worked alongside the mobile crane provider to design a bespoke matting solution using RLR mats and etha foam mats to increase the distributed load area and protect the infrastructure below.
Weather also played a part in the operation. The mobile crane could not operate in wind speeds above 9.8m/s (21.6mph), meaning high winds on the first day delayed the lifting operation. Once conditions improved, the dismantling was completed safely and the road was reopened as planned.
Stephen Boyd, Project Manager at McAleer & Rushe explains further:
Special consideration was required for the planning and organisation of the crane dismantle. Bennetts were proactive throughout this process, and every detail was reviewed in advance of the operation.
A road closure was in place for the dismantle across Saturday and Sunday. With heavy winds on Saturday, the Bennetts team completed the full dismantle on the Sunday. This great effort by the team ensured works were completed by Sunday evening and the road was reopened.
Bennetts provided an excellent service throughout the project. From tower crane erection, servicing and maintenance through to crane dismantle.
Tower crane solutions for complex city centre projects
From complex residential developments to mixed-use regeneration projects, Bennetts works with contractors to develop lifting solutions that support safe and efficient construction programmes. By combining expert guidance on crane selection with detailed lift planning and a strong focus on health and safety, the team helps customers overcome the challenges of working in constrained city centre locations, historically sensitive environments and alongside operational rail infrastructure.
Planning a lift for a site with similar challenges?
