Kensington Green

About The Project

Kensington Green is a private residential estate made up of 13 high-end apartment buildings. Built as a hospital in the 1990s, the estate now requires extensive maintenance every five years. This is to preserve its condition and appearance. 

This maintenance is a long-term project, typically lasting around six months. It includes a wide range of tasks such as: 

• Clearing gutters 

• Painting windows 

• General external upkeep 

Pavehall PLC specialises in planned cyclical maintenance. To minimise disruption and avoid the visual impact of scaffolding, Pavehall PLC chose a smarter solution. They worked with Nationwide Platforms to use powered access machines. This allowed the work to be done more efficiently and with less disturbance to residents. 

The Challenge

Maintaining a busy residential estate like Kensington Green comes with several challenges. These challenges include: 

• Limited working hours, 

• Protecting residents’ privacy 

• Keeping machinery out of the way as much as possible. 

The layout of the site added further complexity. Nationwide Platforms needed to provide machines that could: 

• Reach up to six storeys high 

• Fit through narrow paths and avoid obstacles like trees and plants 

• Hold operators securely at height along with tools, paint, and heavy electrical equipment 

The Solution

Over the course of the project, Nationwide Platforms (NWP) supplied more than 20 machines, including scissor lifts and boom lifts. Each machine was chosen for its ability to meet the demands of working across Kensington Green. These included models like the Z60, Z80, Z125, and 10 HR28s. Some machines which previous suppliers couldn’t provide. 

Several machines came equipped with onboard power in the basket. This is ideal for roof repairs that require electric tools. Hybrid machines were prioritised for two key reasons: 

• They’re quieter than diesel models, reducing noise disturbance for residents 

• They offer environmental benefits, supporting the estate’s sustainability goals 

To protect privacy, cage heights were adjusted to avoid overlooking windows wherever possible. 

For enhanced safety, all machines were fitted with Harness ON™. This is Nationwide Platforms’ fall prevention technology. This system links the worker’s lanyard to the control panel. The machine won’t start unless the harness is safely clipped in. 

NWP’s technology also helped manage the project more efficiently. Its SkySentry fleet management system tracked machine use in real time. It provided visibility into who was operating each unit, and whether that person was trained and authorised. 

NWP’s Visual Remote Assistance (VRA) system allowed site teams to video call engineers for minor machine issues. In many cases, problems were solved remotely. This saved time and helped avoid unnecessary site visits. 

The Benefits

Full On-Site Support 

Nationwide Platforms acted as a complete on-site partner, providing: 

• A wide range of MEWPs (Mobile Elevating Work Platforms) 

• Ongoing technical support 

• Health and safety guidance 

A dedicated project management team was in place throughout. They responded quickly to any issues that could affect productivity. They ensured fast repairs or replacements. This helped reduce downtime and kept transportation costs low. 

Thanks to the UK’s largest MEWP fleet and nationwide depot network, NWP could adapt easily to changing plans. This included things such as the extended timeline of the project, while keeping work on schedule. 

Positive Client Experience

Ken Lancashire, Project Manager for Pavehall PLC said:

“We’d used other suppliers before, but found recurring issues with the machines. Having previously worked with Loxam, Nationwide Platforms’ parent company, I knew what to expect and how easy they are to work with. MPowered access machines were delivered punctually and any repairs sorted without issues. I’d highly recommend them and would definitely use them again. Harness ON was a bonus for us. This meant the machines wouldn't move without proper operator connection. I could rest assured that my team were working safely, which alleviated some of the time and pressure of continuously checking on them.”