Gantries, Hoists and Site Huts

Gantry Design, Hoist Platforms & Temporary Site Structures

Do You Need a Licence for a Gantry or Hoist?

Yes, all gantries, hoists and site huts placed on or over the public highway require a temporary structure licence otherwise known as “pavement licence”.

It is not council policy to grant a licence for the erection of gantries for storing materials or as working platforms for hoists and associated equipment if there is any practical alternative on site.

At Alpha Scaffold Design, we specialise in gantry design, hoist platform scaffolds, and scaffold drawings for temporary site structures, including gantries and site huts placed over public highways. These structures often require precise engineering and compliance with local council regulations to obtain a Temporary Structure Licence.

General requirements for design of gantries

Scaffold drawings of Gantries must comply with the following requirements:

  • gantry platforms must be double-boarded with polythene sheeting between each layer and set at a minimum headroom clearance of 2.44m from the surface of the footway.
  • when required, the outer standards or columns of the gantry must be encased in plywood up to 1.22m high and boxed in at the top.
  • once the gantry has been erected, any bracing used at less than 2.44m above the footway must be removed or arranged in a way to allow safe passage by pedestrians.
  • the outer standards of the gantry erected on the pavement must not be closer than 0.45m to the kerb edge unless other arrangements have been agreed with the council.
  • any gantry that projects beyond the kerb edge must have at least 4.88m clearance above the surface of the carriageway.
  • where agreement has been obtained to erect the outer standards of the gantry nearer than 0.45m to the kerb edge, baulk timbers 300mm x 300mm must be placed on the carriageway for the full length of the scaffolding and must be painted red and white and fitted with red bulkhead lights at 3m intervals.
  • gantries must be lit from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise.
  • on the inside of the structure white bulkhead lights must be set at each end of the structure 2.44m high and at 3m intervals. Similarly, on the outside of the structure, red bulkhead lights must be set at each end of the structure 2.44m high and at 3m intervals.

Hoists Design Regulations

For any hoist design over the public highway, keep the following in mind:

  • Mechanical/platform hoists must not descend onto or operate from the highway surface.

  • Hoists are only permitted if operating from a gantry platform at first-floor level or higher.

  • Rope or gin wheel hoists may only be used on the outer face of scaffolding when aligned with the kerb edge—never over the footway.

  • Hot tar buckets must only be hoisted from a gantry and never from the footway.

Site Huts and Office Accommodation on Gantries

Generally, local councils do not allow site huts or offices on gantries placed over public footways or roads. All welfare or office facilities should remain within the site boundaries or be arranged via off-site rented space.

Exception: If the building has been fully demolished and basement work is ongoing, temporary accommodation on gantries may be approved for messing or welfare for a limited duration.

If you need advice on best practice do not hesitate to contact us:

e-mail: info@alpha-scaffolddesign.uk

phone: 07896979966