The story behind one of the UK’s most ambitious scaffolding projects—a transformative refurbishment of the iconic former Halifax Building Society’s head office. Crossway Scaffolding in partnership with TRAD UK, has redefined what's possible in the scaffolding industry with a blend of cutting-edge engineering, collaboration, and a deep respect for heritage.
Engineering History: The Scaffolding That’s Redefining Halifax’s Skyline
The former Halifax Building Society’s head office, is a striking example of 1970s architectural ambition, which stands as a landmark in the cityscape. Initially built in 1974 and opened by the Queen, this listed building was one of the most advanced constructions of its time. The building, whose design won a Royal Institute of British Architect’s Award, featured a futuristic, cantilevered structure supported by deep steel beams and concrete stair towers. The design gave the illusion of the building “hanging in mid-air,” a feature that still draws admiration today.
Beneath its bold exterior lies a fascinating history. With basements extending nearly 10 meters underground, the building originally housed a deed retrieval system that could deliver documents directly to desks at the press of a button—an innovation unheard of in its time.
Fast forward 50 years, and this architectural marvel required modernisation. It prompted a near to £100 million refurbishment to preserve its historical significance, while preparing it for a new chapter.
The Challenge: Balancing History and Modernity
Taking on a project of this scale and complexity was no small feat. The head office needed a complete overhaul of its glazing system, with glass panels weighing up to half a tonne each. Each panel had to be removed and replaced delicately without compromising the building’s structural integrity or disrupting its iconic appearance.
“The building itself posed unique challenges,” explained Alan Slater, Head of Technical & Product Support at TRAD UK. “The scaffold couldn’t be tied into the structure until it reached circa the 20 metre high mark, meaning everything below had to be buttressed. With roads and public walkways adjacent, this required precise engineering and innovative solutions.”
Crossway Scaffolding installed 20,000 square meters of Plettac Metrix System Scaffold, a cutting-edge system selected for its efficiency and adaptability.
In partnership with TRAD UK, the company invested over £1 million in scaffolding materials. This was Crossway’s largest project using the Plettac Metrix system, and its success left a lasting impression.
Crossway’s Contract Manager Luke Schofield highlighted the system’s advantages: “One of our most seasoned scaffolders, who had been using tube and fitting for 25 years, didn’t want to go back after working with this system. The precision and speed it offers are game-changers.”
Innovative Redesigns
The project demanded creativity and precision, starting with a reworking of the initial designs. Crossway was initially provided with 73 scaffold drawings but ultimately required 174 due to the complexity of the structure.
Working in partnership with Manchester-based Buckley Design Solutions to redesign key elements, utilising advanced bracing techniques, which saved both time and resources.
The installation of a 350-meter NIKO rail system around the building was another standout feature. This system supported the weight of the massive glass panels, which were transported along a 2.5-meter-wide scaffold walkway to hoist locations. The operation was seamless, aided by meticulous planning and the use of innovative equipment described as “sucker machines” for the glass.
Supporting the Community
Crossway’s commitment to social value was evident throughout the project. Five apprentices worked on-site, three of whom lived within 15 minutes of the project. This not only fostered local employment but also provided invaluable hands-on experience.
“This is the kind of project that shapes careers,” said Steve Fearnehough, Managing Director at Crossway. “Our apprentices gained exposure to some of the most advanced scaffolding techniques and learned to adapt to the unique challenges of a listed building.”
Collaboration at the Core
The partnership between Crossway and TRAD UK was a cornerstone of the project’s success. With regular site visits and constant communication, both companies worked together to address challenges and ensure smooth progress.
“We’ve been working with Crossway for over 25 years,” said Alan Slater, Head of Technical & Product Support at TRAD UK. “The mutual trust and open dialogue between our teams made all the difference. This level of collaboration and partnership is what complex projects like this need.”
The proximity of Crossway’s base and TRAD UK’s Leeds depot, just 5 miles and 20 miles from the site respectively, also played a vital role in minimising environmental impact. “Every delivery was carefully coordinated,” Stewart Quinn, TRAD UK’s Regional Director added. “This approach allowed us to collectively reduce our carbon footprint while keeping the project on schedule.”
Environmental Responsibility: A Greener Future
Crossway implemented Just-In-Time deliveries, reducing transport emissions and storage demands. Additionally, using steel decks instead of traditional timber further highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainability.
As the former Halifax Building Society’s head office undergoes its transformation, the project stands as a testament to Crossway Scaffolding’s ingenuity and dedication. By blending advanced engineering, innovative design, and a commitment to people and the planet, Crossway has helped in the restoration of an architectural icon and set a new benchmark for scaffolding excellence.
This scaffolding excellence has also recently been recognised `by the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC), with the project being a finalist in the Project of the Year (Major) category at their recent annual awards ceremony in Belfast, which is a true testament to the dedication of all involved, in making such a complex and innovative scheme work.
“This was a monumental task, but our team rose to the occasion,” said Steve Fearnehough. “It’s a proud moment for us to see this project come together so beautifully.”
With the external refurbishment nearing completion, this isn’t just another scaffolding job—it’s a masterclass in innovation, collaboration, and community-focused construction, a legacy that will endure for years to come.
The NASC is recognised as the national trade body for access and scaffolding in the UK, producing a wide range of industry guidance for scaffolding contractors, their operatives and their clients. Members of the NASC are strictly regulated to ensure a continuous high standard of scaffolding practice.
The Scaffolding Association is the largest trade organisation in the UK scaffolding and access sector, campaigning to raise standards of safety, quality and workforce skills.
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents – actively involved in the promotion of safety and the prevention of accidents in all areas, demonstrating our commitment to safety and providing us with operational guidelines.
ISO 9001 is the internationally recognized Quality Management System (QMS) standard that can benefit any size of organization and is designed to be a powerful business improvement tool.
TRAD UK have been audited by BSi and are accredited to ISO 9001:2015.
POLICY STATEMENT
TRAD UK are established market leaders in the scaffolding hire and sales / fall prevention solutions market sector. The company has developed plans for continued organic growth for increasing market share and a commitment to continually improve the service we provide to our loyal customers. This will be achieved by our fully trained and professional teams supplying the highest quality products and delivering the highest quality service.
TRAD UK recognises the importance of the quality of our products, operations and service to achieving our company quality objectives. Our quality objectives have been planned and established with quantified, measurable goals that drive improvement and focus on maintaining and improving customer satisfaction. TRAD UK’s Senior Management have provided the resources and funds necessary to implement this policy and to achieve its quality objectives. It is, therefore, our policy to operate a Quality Management System that fully complies with the requirements of ISO9001:2015. This policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure its relevance to the strategic direction of the organisation.
The TRAD UK Top Management Team have shown commitment to satisfying all applicable requirements and compliance with customer, regulatory and statutory requirements, with industry codes of practice and relevant product standards (BS and EN). We also commit to continually improve our Quality Management System for sustained customer satisfaction and to continually meet the requirements of all interested parties.
This policy will be communicated to all employees and organisations working for and on behalf of TRAD UK and will be made available to all interested parties upon request.
The Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) is a voluntary accreditation scheme for fleet operators which aims to raise the level of quality within fleet operations, and to demonstrate which operators are achieving exemplary levels of best practice in safety, efficiency, and environmental protection.
CHAS is established as the market leader for health and safety pre-qualification in the UK. It is available to suppliers (those who provide goods and services) and to organisations (buyers) looking for suitably competent suppliers.
Constructionline is the UK’s largest Government-owned register of contractors and consultants for the construction industry. Constructionline standards are high, all suppliers are pre-qualified to the official Government pre-qualified standard.
BuildingConfidence is recognised as the standard for supplier excellence within the industry. Major contractors are using the service to evaluate their supply chains, drive up performance and forge longer lasting relationships with key suppliers.
BM TRADA membership and subsequent annual Scaffold Board grading accreditation allows TRAD to inspect the quality of their scaffold boards both new and in service. This ensures that the quality of their scaffold boards are always measured and comply with the current BS2482 – 2009 standard.
Alcumus is trusted by the world’s most respected organisations to help them create better, more sustainable workplaces.
The Alcumus SafeContractor scheme is a market-leading health & safety accreditation system, helping contractors and organisations become healthier and safer, and gaining SafeContractor status demonstrates an organisation’s compliance with increasingly stringent legislation.
This SafeContractor certificate has been awarded for the following services…
Work Categories:
Fall Protection Safety Systems: Fall Protection Safety Systems
Supplier & Service Provider: Access Equipment Hire Provider
Industry Roles:
Construction Contractor, Supplier
Category Related Activities:
Ladders / Step Ladders, Selection & Control of Subcontractors, Working at Height
