46 Safety & Security
Helping cash-strapped local authorities save thousands of pounds
D
aniel Cheddie, founder and owner of Stronghold® Anchor, discusses removing the cost of scaff olding from high-rise
maintenance and safety works. Across the social housing sector, one challenge
is becoming increasingly familiar. How do local authorities and housing associations deliver urgent safety-critical works in high-rise buildings when budgets are shrinking, access is diffi cult and residents rightly expect minimal disruption? Having spent more than two decades working in
fenestration, window installation and safe working at height, I’ve seen fi rst-hand how access costs have quietly become one of the biggest barriers to progress. Too oſt en, the cost and complexity of scaff olding delays essential window repairs, balcony upgrades and other facilities management tasks such as liſt maintenance, or makes small but critical jobs fi nancially unviable.
WHEN SCAFFOLDING BECOMES THE PROBLEM Scaff olding has its place, but in many refurbishment scenarios it’s simply overkill. Replacing one or two failed windows on a high-rise elevation can trigger scaff old costs running into tens of thousands of pounds, alongside weeks of planning, permits and disruption. In dense urban environments, buildings backing onto waterways, rail lines or public highways introduce additional complications that can make external access impractical or impossible for scaff olders. Emergency situations highlight the issue even
more starkly. A damaged or failed window in an occupied block, school or supported living scheme presents an immediate risk to everyone. Waiting days for scaff old procurement and installation is time that social landlords simply don’t have. T at is precisely the problem I set out to solve
with Stronghold®, which removes these barriers in scenarios where scaff olding becomes impractical or impossibly expensive. T ere are no permits to wait for and no external structures to erect. With trained operatives, the system can be assembled in under ten minutes by two people, allowing work to begin safely and securely almost immediately.
A SMARTER APPROACH TO HIGH-RISE WINDOW AND BALCONY WORKS Stronghold is a self-contained internal safety system that allows window repairs and installations to be carried out entirely from inside the building. It safely spans openings of up to fi ve metres, supports up to three engineers simultaneously and features secure anchor points that allow unrestricted movement while maintaining full harness protection.
Crucially for social housing providers, the
system is fully tool-free and requires no drilling or fi xings to walls or fl oors. T at means zero damage to existing structures and no intrusive making-good works, an essential consideration in occupied homes. It also enables a far more targeted approach.
Instead of scaff olding an entire elevation or fl oor, teams can address only the windows or balconies that require attention, supporting phased refurbishment programmes that align with available budgets.
DELIVERING REAL SAVINGS T e benefi ts are not theoretical; they are being delivered on social housing projects. Clarion Housing Group, for example, has used the Stronghold on projects and it has saved them thousands of pounds. At Lakeview, a dangerous kitchen window on the seventh fl oor required urgent replacement and traditional access options were quickly ruled out, with scaff olding for a single window estimated at around £6,000 and a MEWP was not viable due to restricted access. Using Stronghold, the installation team were able to complete the work safely and effi ciently
Housing Management & Maintenance Spring 2026
from inside the property. T e system was installed in minutes within a small kitchen, providing full external reach while maintaining complete control of the replacement frame and tools through integrated tethering and harness attachment points. T e result was a safe installation, signifi cant cost savings and minimal disruption for the resident.
BUDGET FLEXIBILITY WITHOUT COMPROMISING SAFETY When access costs exceed the value of the work itself, the economics simply do not stack up. For local authorities dealing with tight budgets, short timelines and challenging access conditions, Stronghold off ers a solution that prioritises safety, compliance and resident wellbeing, while delivering genuine fi nancial and operational fl exibility. As the sector continues to grapple with
competing demands and increasing scrutiny, solutions that reduce cost without compromising safety will be essential. From my perspective, removing unnecessary scaff olding from high-rise maintenance is not just a saving, it is a smarter way forward for social housing.
01992 302133
www.stronghold-anchor.com
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