Meticulous trackway solution for luxury London apartment complex 

The Project Brief 

A brand new client approached us after being recommended to them by one of our regular contract lifting clients.  

The Whiteleys, formally Whiteley’s shopping centre in Bayswater, is now a £1 billion residential, retail, dining and hotel complex.  

They required our trackway services whilst installing a 7-tonne sculpture within the grounds of the 109-year-old Grade II listed building. Access was needed across the interior granite surface and exterior monoblock surface. 

Location & Ground Type 

To access the outdoor sculpture location, equipment would need to travel through the lobby. In the site survey, we immediately identified that this project would require extra special attention to detail due to the granite subsurface.

After conducting an in-depth site survey with the client,  our Project Engineer Jason Hedley advised that a double-element, cross-bonded configuration laid over a cushion underlay would be our preferred option as this would distribute the weight better, reducing the risk of damage to the pristine subsurface. 

Trackway installation for The Whiteleys
Ground protection for The Whiteleys
The Whiteleys using DTH Trackway
Ground protection for The Whiteleys London

Project Challenges 

The site entrance was problematic as there is only a 2.8-metre gap between the two pillars. This combined with the low ceiling of the building, we opted for a moffett installation rather than our traditional rear-mounted lorry loader method.

This workaround allowed for better manoeuvring around the site. It was also particularly beneficial for the crane pad area which was especially tight. 

Project Outcome 

 We successfully installed 90 Aluminium DTH Panels, laid in a double-element configuration over a cushion underlay to protect the pristine granite surface.

This gave our clients the ability to lift and install a large monument within the grounds of The Whiteley. We’re pleased to be able to add luxury apartment complexes to the long list of sectors we have the ability to serve.

’Davis Trackhire mobilised a ground protection system at short notice at a heritage site with the highest professionalism and attention to detail. This is from the initial site survey and layout design through to the delivery, installation and collection.  Apart from the reassurance of this level of service, it allowed my team to focus on our scope in a complex project with no distraction. Every other contractor involved on the job who witnessed Davis Track Hire work asked for their details.’’
– A.E. – Director