The redevelopment at Pembroke Castle, which dates back to Norman times, celebrates the nearby South Quay town and its historic legacy as the birthplace of the Tudor dynasty, with the new visitor centre named in honour of Henry Tudor. The project is part of Pembrokeshire County Council’s wider regeneration programme, which will be delivered in two phases and aims to provide a sustainable mix of new facilities for the town.
Phase one will see the creation of the Henry Tudor visitor centre, along with a new library, information centre, café, and landscaped gardens. Phase two will focus on building a three-storey community hub with space for creative opportunities such as digital media, art, and heritage craft activities. Bennetts is supplying heavy lifting for both phases of the development.
We installed our Jost 208 luffing jib crane with a 50m jib configured in two-fall, giving it a maximum lifting capacity of 6 tonnes. The crane can operate via mains power (100 kVA) or generator power (200 kVA). On this site, the crane is mains powered which eliminates the need for a generator and fuel, reducing emissions and noise pollution. The crane is expected to remain on site for 63 weeks.
Overcoming site challenges
This project presented several challenges that required careful planning. Local narrow streets meant deliveries had to be staggered to avoid congestion, while the jib was erected in individual sections rather than being built on the ground and lifted in one piece due to tight space on the site. This ensured safe assembly within the restricted footprint. High winds also delayed the crane erection, but with flexibility in the schedule we were able to reschedule for a safer day.
Another major challenge is the requirement for a crane that would not oversail the neighbouring pub, surrounding roads, or the Grade I listed castle. Working on projects with historic buildings is always tricky and the priority is to not damage any existing buildings – in this case a Norman castle. The Jost 208 is the ideal crane for this site, with a short out-of-service radius, reducing the risk of oversailing or collision. It’s also fitted with AMCS zoning technology to ensure the crane operated strictly within the site boundaries.
Tracey Pockett, Managing Director at Bennetts Cranes, commented: “We’re pleased to work with Andrew Scott on the redevelopment of Pembroke Castle’s visitor centre, in such a beautiful and historic site in Wales. The Jost 208 is the best crane for this project, meeting the site’s lifting requirements while offering a short out-of-service radius to minimise the risk of collision.”
Bennetts Cranes has an extensive modern fleet of luffing jib, saddle jib, and remotely controlled cranes.
If you’d like to discuss your next heavy-lifting project, give us a call, number on profile page.