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In September 2026, Ainscough Crane Hire supported Mitie Telecoms in the replacement of a 15m Phosco Phase 3 monopole with a new 17.5m Phase 6 monopole at a telecoms site in Northampton. The operation took place over two days: the removal on 7th September and the installation on 14th September. The works formed part of Vodafone's Beacon 3 East Unwind programme, which is upgrading the mobile network in the region to give customers a faster, more reliable service, including 5G.
To achieve this, Mitie Telecoms was tasked with fitting newer, heavier equipment, which the old pole could not hold. The work had to be carried out safely, beside a public road, and to a fixed deadline.
For the removal of the old pole and the installation of the new one, Mitie turned to Ainscough, trusting its strong reputation for safety and efficiency. As a single supplier, Ainscough provided the crane, transport, depot space for prebuilding the headframe, and the lifting operation itself, giving Mitie control of the whole workstream through one point of contact.
The telecoms site left Ainscough with several challenges to overcome. The compound was very restricted, yet it had to accommodate a 40-tonne all-terrain crane, two transport vehicles and a MEWP, each needing to operate without obstructing the others. The site stood close to a public road, which had to be closed under a closure permit, in 15-minute intervals, for the lifting operation. The telecoms site also had to be back live within a week of the new installation.
As with every Ainscough contract lift, preparation began well before the crane arrived on site. Ainscough carried out site surveys to assess the access, the restricted compound and the working radius, then used CAD and 4D planning to model the lifting operation in advance. On that basis, Ainscough selected the LTM 1040 all-terrain crane as the right machine for the restricted space and the loads to be lifted.
Joint calls were held with the Ainscough transport team, Mitie and the MEWP supplier to agree the plan before any personnel or equipment arrived on site. This early coordination is a key factor in keeping Ainscough’s operations running smoothly and minimising risk.
Ainscough collected the new pole sections and headframe from the supplier and delivered them to its Nottingham depot, where Mitie’s engineers built and populated the headframe ahead of installation. This meant the headframe arrived on site ready to lift, reducing the work to be done within the compound.
The operation was delivered in two phases, a week apart, using the same LTM 1040 all-terrain crane. As a mobile crane, it travelled to site by road and was set up within the compound without the need for assembly, which helped on such a tight site.
The first phase, on 7th September, was the removal of the existing structure. The team attached Tirfors to the 15m monopole and secured its sections together so that it could be lifted safely as a single piece. The headframe was removed first and loaded onto Ainscough’s transport, followed by the monopole, and both were taken away for disposal.
The second phase, on 14th September, was the installation. The new pole sections were built up on site using the crane and secured with Tirfors, and the assembled 17.5m pole was then lifted and landed into position. The headframe followed. Having been populated at the depot, it was lifted with Mitie’s telecoms equipment already in place and was landed and secured carefully. Finally, the telecoms cabinets were landed in the compound and secured down.
Throughout both phases the lifts were controlled by Ainscough’s lift supervisor, slinger signaller and crane operator, working alongside Mitie’s engineers.
The project was completed ahead of schedule and with zero incidents recorded.
Mitie Telecoms, with the help of Ainscough, has delivered a taller, stronger structure capable of carrying the newer, heavier equipment needed to give Vodafone’s customers in Northampton a faster, more reliable network, including 5G.
At Ainscough, safety is at the heart of everything we do, a commitment captured in our principle, “Make the Safe Choice”. On a site beside a public road, with members of the public so close by, it was important that Mitie worked with a supplier that treats safety as a priority. The job also had to be done efficiently, and Mitie’s equipment handled with care.
The Northampton project came in the first weeks of the relationship between the two companies, which began on a trial basis. Following successive back-to-back operations, including the Vodafone project in Northampton, Ainscough has been given the opportunity to work with other parts of Mitie’s business, including its VMO2, battery storage and digital signage teams.
“A complex two-phase lifting operation, delivered safely and efficiently through careful planning. From the controlled removal of the existing 15m monopole to the precise installation of the new 17.5m structure and telecoms equipment, this project demonstrated the importance of meticulous planning, specialist lifting expertise and seamless teamwork.”
Paul Clewes, Telecoms Project Manager at Ainscough
“The site posed a challenge, being a tight space to work within, but it was executed perfectly. It was well planned from the beginning, and it showed onsite with great control measures in place to ensure safety. Another great example of working collaboratively together!”
John Lyons, Supplier Quality & Assurance Manager at Mitie
Ainscough handles telecoms lifts and other complex lifts from start to finish. We provide the crane, transport, planning and lifting through a single point of contact, with safety at the centre of every job.
To find out more about this project, or to discuss contract lifting or crane hire for your next one, get in touch with our team today.
