John Sutch Cranes has completed a precision lift at Ormskirk’s landmark Tower Hill Water Tower this week, placing a modular site office on the grounds to support the redevelopment of the 19th-century structure into a single home.
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The work was carried out using our 60-tonne Liebherr mobile crane, with the lift forming the first of a programme of planned operations that John Sutch Cranes will deliver throughout the project.
The tower - built in 1853–54 in a Romanesque-revival style for the Ormskirk Local Board of Health - is a Grade II* listed landmark and is reputed to be one of the oldest surviving water towers in the country.
Planning permission to convert the tower into a single dwelling was granted in 2023, and a construction management plan has been a key element of the permissions and site safety arrangements. John Sutch’s involvement was requested by the client to manage all crane operations for the duration of the conversion.
On site, the team used a Liebherr LTM 1060-3.1 - a compact three-axle all-terrain crane with a 60-tonne maximum capacity and a telescopic boom of up to 48m.
The lift placed a pre-assembled site office unit safely onto prepared ground adjacent to the tower; operations included ground-bearing assessments, rigging checks and a full method statement to protect both operatives and the historic fabric.
John Sutch Cranes’ Technical Sales Representative, Mick Turner, who has been on the job, said the works were typical of the specialist, careful lifting needed on heritage conversions.
Mick said: “Working around a listed structure like Tower Hill requires meticulous planning - from crane selection and outrigger siting to liaison with conservation officers and the client. Our 60-tonne Liebherr was ideal for getting the job done quickly and safely without impacting the tower itself.”
The conversion project is expected to run for up to 18–24 months once full site works begin, and John Sutch Cranes will continue to support the programme with staged lifts delivering materials, plant and modular elements as the build progresses.
It’s rumoured a worldwide filming brand will be charting the renovation – from first lift to final finishing.
