Cherry Picker Supported the Structural Survey of Edinburgh’s National Gallery
A 101 Height for Hire cherry picker in use at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh, allowing architects and stonemasons to safely inspect façades, roofs, and architectural features of the historic sandstone buildings during a heritage maintenance survey.
Edinburgh Cherry Picker Hired to Survey Structural Integrity of Landmark, National Modern Art Gallery Building
On 9th April 2025, 101 Height for Hire supported a comprehensive structural survey of the National Gallery of Modern Art in central Edinburgh. This heritage sandstone gallery, consisting of Modern One and Modern Two, is a landmark of Scottish cultural architecture situated in a busy area popular with pedestrians and visitors. Constructed in the 17th and 19th centuries, the gallery’s historic significance required careful inspection of façades, roofs, and architectural details to ensure its long-term preservation. The survey, undertaken by architects and stonemasons, aimed to assess the structural integrity of the entire building.
Why Scaffolding Was Not Suitable for Edinburgh’s National Gallery Heritage Survey
For this survey, there were essentially two ways to complete the inspection: erect scaffolding around the building or use a mobile cherry picker, such as the MULTITEL MJ226 platform.
Scaffolding would have presented significant challenges. The gallery is surrounded by gardens, mature trees, and pedestrian pathways, making scaffolding logistically complex, costly, and disruptive. The size and height of Modern One and Modern Two would have required multiple scaffolding towers, extensive assembly and dismantling, and a large amount of skilled labour, dramatically increasing time and expense.
Given these constraints, scaffolding was not a practical option. The building’s listed status, intricate detailing, and high pedestrian traffic demanded a solution that could provide safe, flexible, and efficient access without compromising the site or visitor experience.
How a Cherry Picker Enabled Safe and Efficient Access at Edinburgh’s National Gallery
For the survey, the mobile cherry picker provided unparalleled access, safety, and efficiency. Unlike scaffolding, the platform could be quickly repositioned around the building, allowing the team of architects and stonemasons to inspect façades, roofs, gutters, and other architectural features without repeatedly assembling and dismantling equipment.
The MULTITEL MJ226 platform supplied by 101 Height for Hire offered a reach of over 20 meters and horizontal flexibility of 12 meters, enabling inspectors to navigate around trees, gardens, and landscaped areas while maintaining a safe working environment. Its stability and platform design allowed surveyors to work closely on delicate stonework and architectural details, ensuring a precise assessment of the building’s structural integrity.
Importantly, this was achieved while preserving the natural beauty and historic character of the 17th- and 19th-century sandstone buildings, allowing visitors and patrons to continue enjoying the gallery’s picturesque surroundings throughout this essential maintenance task. The combination of mobility, precision, and adherence to UK working at height regulations made the cherry picker from 101 Height for Hire the most effective solution for completing a thorough, safe, and timely survey of this heritage landmark.
Advantages of Using a Cherry Picker Truck for Heritage Building Inspections
The use of a cherry picker truck for the National Gallery survey offered numerous advantages over traditional methods. It allowed rapid deployment, meaning inspectors could be quickly positioned wherever needed, reducing setup time compared to scaffolding. Its flexible height and horizontal reach enabled safe access to façades, roofs, and other difficult-to-reach areas. Surveyors could work from a stable, secure platform, maintaining full compliance with UK working at height regulations.
Additionally, the cherry picker caused minimal disruption, allowing visitors and staff to continue enjoying the site uninterrupted. The combination of efficiency, safety, and reduced labour requirements made the cherry picker truck from 101 Height for Hire the ideal choice for conducting heritage building surveys in busy, historic locations.
Preserving Edinburgh’s National Gallery: How 101 Height for Hire Supported Long-Term Heritage Maintenance
The successful completion of the survey demonstrated how hiring the MULTITEL MJ226 cherry picker from 101 Height for Hire in Edinburgh allowed the inspection to be carried out efficiently, safely, and with minimal disruption. By providing rapid, flexible access to the façades, roofs, and architectural details of Modern One and Modern Two, the cherry picker helped reduce labour, minimise costs, and save valuable time compared to scaffolding.
Crucially, this approach ensured that the 17th- and 19th-century sandstone heritage buildings were carefully preserved, protecting the Georgian architectural features and picturesque surroundings for visitors and patrons. With the survey complete, architects and stonemasons were able to identify areas requiring maintenance or reinforcement, providing the gallery with the insights needed to plan future preservation works and maintain this iconic Scottish landmark for generations to come.
Do You Need to Hire a Cherry Picker from 101 Height for Hire?
For height-related projects across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife, and Dundee, 101 Height for Hire provides reliable cherry picker truck hire with a trained and experienced operator. Whether your work involves heritage building surveys, maintenance, or repair tasks, our cherry picker delivers safe, efficient, and flexible access, enabling your project to be completed quickly while minimizing disruption.
All of our vehicles are professionally maintained, regularly inspected, and promptly delivered, giving you peace of mind and allowing your team to focus entirely on the work at hand.
Take a look at some of our recent cherry picker hires in our gallery, or browse our blog to see how our equipment is supporting essential work across Central Scotland.
Contact 101 Height for Hire today to discuss your requirements and arrange your cherry picker hire. Let our team help you access even the most challenging heights safely and efficiently — ensuring your next project is completed on time, on budget, and with minimal disruption.