Access barges in

William Anelay is a UK specialist in the conservation and restoration of fine and historic buildings. Its work on restoring the Navigation Warehouse in Wakefield, West Yorkshire required an innovative approach to access because the building is adjacent to the river Calder.

Planet Platforms was approached and came up with a solution in which a17 m boom was loaded onto a barge, floated across the river and moored next to the warehouse. The boom - a specifically hired Pioneer AD17T self-propelled articulated boom manufactured by Aerial Access¹ - was secured to the floor by anchor plates welded to the floor of the barge. The boom was then able to work safely through its complete working envelope.

Planet's marketing manager, Tim Mee, said, "This wasn't a project that needed a straight-forward access solution but Planet are always pleased to be given a challenge and then find a way to solve it to ultimately result in safe access."

The restoration work forms part of the Wakefield Waterfront Project, which, it is said, will transform the Southern Gateway by adding a new cultural dimension into the city. The master-plan for the waterfront includes the restoration and conservation of a number of fine historical structures such as the 18th century Grade II* Listed Calder and Hebble Navigation Warehouse and Grade II Listed Phoenix and Rutland Mills complex.

William Anelay was founded over 260 years ago and is among the UK's leading and longest-established specialists in the conservation and restoration of fine and historic buildings, carrying out projects around the world.

¹The Aerial Access business was absorbed into that of the Tanfield Group.