West End Accessibility

Anlev’s Precision Lift Services marks first lift installation under Anlev ownership. 

Acquired by Anlev Elevator Group, the lift, escalator and moving walk brand of Hong Kong-headquartered Analogue Holdings Ltd., in October 2023 (ELEVATOR WORLD UK, 4th Quarter 2023), Essex-based Precision Lift Services Ltd. recently marked its first installation under Anlev ownership— a completely modernized lift system for a mid-rise property in London’s historic West End. The 4,482-ft², four-storey mixed-used building at 57 Neal Street underwent a complete refurbishment by general contractor LSBuild, with which Precision Lift Services has a close relationship. Architecture and building consulting firm Fresson + Tee (F+T) handled design. 

Precision Lift Services has delivered “smart, sleek and high-end” lifts for LSBuild previously, so when LSBuild became part of the 57 Neal Street project, they naturally turned to the lift company, says Precision Lift Services Head of Major Works Henry Gregory. Works began prior to the acquisition — in January 2023 — and were completed in June 2024, with a new shaft and central stair core going in from March-May 2024. 

Originally the property housed four self-contained offices, ground-level/basement retail and common areas that included bicycle storage, shower facilities and an Equality Act-compliant shower room, according to F+T.^[1] After a full internal and external building refurbishment, 57 Neal Street now houses six duplex apartments on the third and fourth floors. These residences boast updated kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, mechanical/electrical systems, new finishes and air conditioning. Demolition and reconstruction of common areas included a new lift shaft for a machine-room-less traction unit from Precision Lift Services. The new lift has:

• Speed of 1.0 m/s
• Capacity for eight persons or 630 kg
• Travel distance of approximately 15 m

Henry said complete replacement of the lift system involved replacing an existing 2:1 roped hydraulic lift with the new MRL traction lift. It included complete shaft modifications to work in tandem with a new stairwell structure, as well as counterweight safety gears to protect the void under the lift shaft, he said. Precision Lift Services used entrance frames from Wittur, stainless steel from Rimex and controller components from SafeLine. 

A Unique Quarter With a Rich History

The area where 57 Neal Street is located is part of Seven Dials, a unique quarter of London with a rich history and a star-shaped layout. Thomas Neale designed the neighborhood in the 1690s to maximise the number of houses he could profitably build, all centered around the Sundial Pillar designed by leading English stonemason Edward Pierce. Sewers were laid in Seven Dials in the 1850s, and street names changed in the 1930s. 

In 1974, Seven Dials was named a Conservation Area with Outstanding Status. In 1977, it was declared a Housing Action Area. By 1984, the Housing Action Area Committee ensured that all of the vacant homes were in some use and was encouraging business to locate in the area. An increasing number of buildings have been restored over the years. Since 1974, more than 25% of the area’s buildings have been listed. Presently, Seven Dials is a prosperous, largely commercial neighbourhood in the WC2 postcode area between the West End theatre district of Shaftesbury Avenue and the fashionable shopping district around nearby Neal’s Yard. It is dominated by generally slow-moving traffic in its narrow streets, which are usually crowded with people.^[2]

Replacement of the original Sundial Pillar, commissioned by The Seven Dials Trust, (formerly The Seven Dials Monument Charity), was constructed during 1988–89 to the original design. It was unveiled by Beatrix of the Netherlands during June 1989 on a visit to commemorate the tercentenary of the reign of William III and Mary II, during which the area was developed. The monument is owned by, and continues to be maintained by, The Seven Dials Trust whose mandate also includes improving the area, working with landowners as well as national and local agencies.^[2]

A Tight Fit

57 Neal Street’s charming and historic location was also what made the project challenging, Henry observes, stating: 

“Typically, Central London has limited access for deliveries and storage, so a piecemeal install was necessary to deliver this project. The existing shaft was modified to accommodate the new stairwell to connect the basement to the fourth floor. This meant we had to erect large, supporting steel structures to withstand the imposed forces of the lift. We were continually measuring to ensure the plumbness of the new shaft aligned with the new lift.” 

As the tenants of 57 Neal Street now enjoy an accessible, completely refurbished building with a stylish, reliable lift, Precision Lift Services is busy working on additional lift projects throughout the U.K. In Manchester, it was close to completing the lift system for Victoria Riverside, three towers of up to 37 stories by Far East Consortium containing more than 630 residences. The company also has large-scale lift projects underway in Beorma Quarter in Birmingham and Ferry Island, North London.

References

[1] fandt.com/blog/case-studies/57-neal-street-london-wc2

[2] wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Dials,_London