- Telecom
In August 2021, a fire destroyed the Bilsdale mast on the North Yorkshire moors, leaving over 600,000 homes without a TV signal and impacting many other services that relied on it.
While a temporary tower was erected by February 2022, a permanent replacement was needed to fully restore services for local residents and businesses.
Managing relationships with stakeholders was crucial, especially since the mast was in the constituency of then Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.
We were awarded the contract to replace the mast, a project that involved building a new 309-meter (1,014-foot) mast.
As part of the project, we needed to build the replacement mast and install the antennas, as well as adding safety features such as anti-climb protection and ice shielding.
The site is located in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is also a designated Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI), which meant additional considerations, including thorough environmental assessments.
To streamline the process, the mast was prefabricated offsite, transported to the location, and pre-staged to make sure everything lined up perfectly. This involved creating a new fabrication process to improve efficiency.
Once on site, the construction faced challenges due to the weather, including freezing temperatures, rain, snow, and strong winds. However, strong teamwork and good communication with both the client and suppliers helped us keep the project on track and ensure safety throughout.
In 2023, all broadcast services were successfully switched on, bringing back a vital community resource. Engagement with stakeholders throughout the process was key to the projects’ success.
