Construction firm first to use remote-control tower crane on Birmingham site

Winvic Construction has been testing a ground-based control system for operating tower cranes at a student accommodation project in Birmingham.

The Skyline Cockpit technology is designed to enhance the firm’s health, safety, and wellbeing practices.

Besides boosting safety, the system offers daily and weekly analytics reports through its cloud portal, enabling better efficiency analysis.

After a 12-week trial of Skyline Cockpit at Crown Place Birmingham, a purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) project in the city centre, Winvic will continue using the remote crane operation technology for the remainder of the project.

The development, scheduled for handover to client Crown Student Living in December 2025, includes 814 student beds and is Winvic’s tallest project to date, reaching heights of nine, 12, and 33 storeys.

A 14-tonne Potain MR225 crane is handling several tasks, such as building the concrete frame, installing the curtain wall, and moving materials like bathroom pods.

The crane, now at 77 metres, will reach up to 102 metres as the construction continues.

Mark Jones, Winvic’s managing director of Multi-room, said: “Winvic is known for embracing innovative technologies, materials and methods of construction and we’re pleased to be the first contractor in the UK to utilise ground control tower crane technology. It is transformational for the safety and wellbeing of crane operators and an important step for the industry.

“During our 12-week trial period, in collaboration with Skyline Cockpit and Radius Group, we analysed the data and assessed the benefits and we’re delighted to announce that we will continue to use this game-changing technology at the 33-storey Crown Place Birmingham for the remainder of the project’s construction.”

Alan Pulver of Crown Student Living said: “Winvic are doing an amazing job for us at our latest PBSA to be known as Crown Place, Birmingham. Winvic are forward thinking, and it is no surprise that they are using Skyline Cockpit which certainly sounds like a winner. The ground control system for operating tower cranes will be a great advance to the construction industry, and we are proud to be associated both with Winvic and Skyline Cockpit in this groundbreaking venture.”