New landmark for Exeter's skyline

The skyline of Exeter has a new landmark, thanks to a 80 metre high tower crane which will play a vital role in the creation of city's Queen St Dining Quarter.

Aviva Investors and construction partners ISG who are creating the unique dining destination are taking delivery of a tower crane capable of lifting 4 tonnes, with a 50 metre reach which allows it to cover the whole of the 36,500 sq ft site.

A 300 tonne mobile crane required to piece together the tower crane will be given a Police escort into Exeter city centre at 6am on Tuesday 21 July 2015. The crane itself will arrive on 9 articulated lorries delivered throughout the Tuesday. Goldsmith Square has been fenced off in preparation for the arrival of what has been described at a 'giant Meccano set', the pit for the base of the crane has been dug in the corner of Market Square, where it will stand until November.

The 'Luffing Jib Tower Crane' will be used in installing a new steel frame to extend existing concrete framed retail units, which are currently being stripping out and reconfigured, by a further storey and form roof top terraced areas for diners. It will also be lowering in pre- cast planks and stairs, metal decking, curtain walling and roofing materials.

The crane has a special safety 'zoning system' in place which means loads can only be lifted above the site itself and not over public circulation areas. The crane will become a familiar Exeter city landmark for the next five months.

The complex, multi-phased project is being delivered while the popular Guildhall Shopping Centre and public realm space remains open. The project will see the retention and conservation of the Queen Street façade. ISG have been carefully installing piled foundations to support a two-storey steel frame superstructure to house the new restaurant facilities.

Queen St Dining Quarter is an ambitious development that builds upon the success of Exeter’s burgeoning cultural quarter and will act as the catalyst for further investment in the city’s evening and night time economy.

Andrew McNeilly, Guildhall Shopping Centre Manager, said: "“The arrival of the tower crane will undoubtedly create a bit of a stir and stimulate people's curiosity as to what is going on; in turn this will, I hope, continue to raise awareness of the transformation that is under way at the Guildhall Shopping Centre.

Despite our obvious excitement at this pivotal point in the build, and the increased level of activity on site, we are ensuring that shoppers can still fully enjoy visiting the shopping centre while work is going on to create the dining quarter.

Tenants and customers should be rest assured that it remains 'business as usual' for the Guildhall Shopping Centre during the redevelopment.”

For further information about the Queen St redevelopment, please visit: www.queenst-exeter.com