October’s Project of the Month: Amphibian Scaffolding at Chartwell Hockley Industrial Centre

We’re proud to feature Amphibian Scaffolding in this month’s spotlight for their proactive, hands-on approach to scaffolding delivery at the Chartwell Hockley Industrial Centre, a new-build development located adjacent to a live railway line.

This project demanded logistical care, tight coordination with multiple contractors, and a sharp focus on safe working in a highly constrained environment. With support from SMART Estimator, Amphibian successfully tackled the challenge through clear design, strong communication, and efficient material planning.

Experience That Delivers:

With over 17 years of industry experience, Amphibian Scaffolding has built its name on trust, safety, and quality. Run by founders Ricki and Shane, the business has grown steadily through consistent delivery and a personal, client-focused ethos.

From residential and commercial projects to complex industrial and care sector builds, their approach remains the same: a hands-on service backed by experience, skilled professionals, and compliance-first thinking.

The Project: Chartwell Hockley Industrial Centre

This new-build project involved the construction of four apartment blocks, positioned directly next to an active railway line. Amphibian’s role was to provide the scaffolding required for brickwork progression, working in close collaboration with other contractors on site.

“This is a good-sized project, not unusually large for us, but the proximity to the railway made things more complex than a typical new build.”

Scope of Work:

•             Independent scaffolding for four new apartment blocks

•             Installation near a live railway boundary

•             Coordination with multiple contractors across a phased schedule

•             Risk mitigation planning and pre-construction reviews

Safety and Planning Near the Tracks

One of the most significant challenges was working safely next to a live railway line. With strict safety parameters in place and limited buffer zones, Amphibian engaged in detailed pre-construction planning and collaborative design reviews alongside the main contractor and other trades.

“Early on, we worked closely with the wider team to manage the risks. We’re still in the early phases, but it’s going smoothly.”

As the project progresses, coordination remains key, especially given the logistical limitations around material access and site movement.

Powered by SMART Estimator

Amphibian used SMART Estimator throughout this project to:

•             Draw and design scaffold layouts efficiently

•             Measure material requirements accurately

•             Present 3D scaffold models to the client for early sign-off and transparency

•             Support cost monitoring across different scaffold sections during installation and dismantle phases

“Using SMART Estimator meant the client could see what it would look like before we even started. That helped a lot with communication and selling the plan.”

The ability to visualise the build in advance also helped the Amphibian team internally, streamlining planning, minimising delays, and keeping the install on track.

Results and Lessons Learned:

As with many urban new builds, logistics and location were central to the success of the project. The experience reinforced a key lesson for the team:

“The takeaway for us on this one was understanding the location early and planning logistically to support the client right from the start.”

Looking Ahead:

Next up for Amphibian is the Apex Crowborough Care project, starting this week, another substantial build that will benefit from the same blend of practical experience and digital tools.

“We’ve got a big care home job starting next week. Projects like this show us how important scaffold planning software is, not just for quoting, but for managing costs and showing clients what they’re getting.”

Built for Scaffolders Like Amphibian:

SMART Scaffolder helps scaffolding professionals visualise, plan, price, and deliver with clarity and control. Whether it’s a city-centre care facility or a tight-footprint apartment build by a railway, we give you the tools to build safer and smarter, every time!