
Anglian Water adopts ClickLift™ for housing developments Anglian Water Anglian Water The challenge Housing developments present a common challenge when it comes to the installation of manhole covers. In most cases, covers and frames are installed during the early stages of construction, long before the final surface course is laid. Traditionally, developers have been left with two options. The first is to install the frame proud of the binder course, leaving the ironwork exposed to potential damage from construction traffic, tracked plant and site machinery. The second is to install the frame level with the binder course and then excavate, remove and reinstall it once the final surface layer is ready to be laid. Both approaches create additional cost, disruption and programme delays. They can also increase the risk of damage to ironwork and result in unnecessary excavation works, particularly once residents have moved into completed developments. Recognising these ongoing challenges, Anglian Water sought a solution that could improve efficiency on housing developments while maintaining the standards required for assets intended for adoption. The solution ClickLift™ was developed to eliminate the need to dig out and reinstall manhole cover frames when final surfacing takes place. Compatible with Highway and Tristar D400 manhole covers, the BSI Kitemarked system allows the cover and frame to be installed at binder course level during the initial construction phase. When the final road surface is ready to be laid, the ClickLift™ frame extender can be installed quickly and simply, raising the frame to the correct finished level without excavation or reinstatement. By removing the need for a second installation, ClickLift™ helps developers and groundworkers reduce labour requirements, minimise disruption and protect ironwork from unnecessary construction damage. The system also removes the need for confined space working associated with traditional frame replacement methods and significantly reduces the time required to complete final adjustments before surfacing. Clicklift Anglian Waters testimonial “ We understand the problems that housebuilders and groundworkers face daily and creatively solving these issues is what Wrekin does best. We’re already in conversations with a number of other water authorities with regard to adding ClickLift to their list of approved products and are looking forward to continuing to support those working on housing developments across the country. Dave Sanders Wrekin Products Ltd. The trial process To assess the suitability of the system for housing developments within its network, Anglian Water undertook a series of trials across two separate developments. The first trial was carried out at Chamberlains Barn Quarry, a Redrow Homes development in Leighton Buzzard, where Highway manhole covers fitted with ClickLift™ were installed using polyester resin bedding mortar. A second trial followed at the Orchard Croft development in Diss, Norfolk, where the system was tested on 32 Highway covers installed using a sand and cement bedding arrangement. These trials allowed Anglian Water to evaluate the performance of ClickLift™ under varying site conditions and installation methods. Over a two-year period, the product demonstrated its ability to provide a practical and reliable alternative to traditional frame reinstallation techniques. The outcome Following the successful completion of the trials, Anglian Water approved ClickLift™ for use on developer services across its network. The approval provides developers, contractors and groundworkers with confidence that ClickLift™ can be specified on housing developments intended for adoption by Anglian Water. It also offers a proven way to reduce the time, cost and disruption traditionally associated with raising manhole covers to final road level. For developments where residents may already have moved in before final surfacing works take place, the benefits are particularly significant. By removing the need to excavate and reinstall ironwork, ClickLift™ helps minimise noise, reduce disruption and avoid unnecessary road closures. The approval marks an important milestone for ClickLift™ and reinforces its value as a practical innovation that addresses a long-standing challenge faced by developers and groundworkers across the housing sector. Related Case Studies Related case study ClickLift saves housing development time and money ClickLift has proven to be a huge success, after being installed as part of a £50m housing development in north east Scotland. The developers, family-run Guild Homes (Tayside) Ltd, have been so impressed that they have demonstrated the product to construction colleagues - and intend to use it in further developments. Guild Homes (Tayside) Ltd Read more Related case study Scotland’s first ever ClickLift installations Wrekin has successfully completed five ClickLift™ installations as part of trials for two separate housing developments in Scotland, marking the first time the product has been used outside England. ClickLift™ raises Wrekin Highway and TriStar frames to suit the final surface layer without the need for digging out and re-installing. Campion Homes, Tough Construction, Dawn Homes Read more Share this page

Anglian Water adopts ClickLift™ for housing developments

Anglian Water
Anglian Water

The challenge

Housing developments present a common challenge when it comes to the installation of manhole covers. In most cases, covers and frames are installed during the early stages of construction, long before the final surface course is laid.

Traditionally, developers have been left with two options. The first is to install the frame proud of the binder course, leaving the ironwork exposed to potential damage from construction traffic, tracked plant and site machinery. The second is to install the frame level with the binder course and then excavate, remove and reinstall it once the final surface layer is ready to be laid.

Both approaches create additional cost, disruption and programme delays. They can also increase the risk of damage to ironwork and result in unnecessary excavation works, particularly once residents have moved into completed developments.

Recognising these ongoing challenges, Anglian Water sought a solution that could improve efficiency on housing developments while maintaining the standards required for assets intended for adoption.

Clicklift with a Highway manhole cover and frame

The solution

ClickLift being installed at Maddoxford Gardens

ClickLift™ was developed to eliminate the need to dig out and reinstall manhole cover frames when final surfacing takes place.

Compatible with Highway and Tristar D400 manhole covers, the BSI Kitemarked system allows the cover and frame to be installed at binder course level during the initial construction phase. When the final road surface is ready to be laid, the ClickLift™ frame extender can be installed quickly and simply, raising the frame to the correct finished level without excavation or reinstatement.

By removing the need for a second installation, ClickLift™ helps developers and groundworkers reduce labour requirements, minimise disruption and protect ironwork from unnecessary construction damage. The system also removes the need for confined space working associated with traditional frame replacement methods and significantly reduces the time required to complete final adjustments before surfacing.

Clicklift Anglian Waters testimonial

“

We understand the problems that housebuilders and groundworkers face daily and creatively solving these issues is what Wrekin does best. We’re already in conversations with a number of other water authorities with regard to adding ClickLift to their list of approved products and are looking forward to continuing to support those working on housing developments across the country.

Dave Sanders

Wrekin Products Ltd.

The trial process

To assess the suitability of the system for housing developments within its network, Anglian Water undertook a series of trials across two separate developments.

The first trial was carried out at Chamberlains Barn Quarry, a Redrow Homes development in Leighton Buzzard, where Highway manhole covers fitted with ClickLift™ were installed using polyester resin bedding mortar. A second trial followed at the Orchard Croft development in Diss, Norfolk, where the system was tested on 32 Highway covers installed using a sand and cement bedding arrangement.

These trials allowed Anglian Water to evaluate the performance of ClickLift™ under varying site conditions and installation methods. Over a two-year period, the product demonstrated its ability to provide a practical and reliable alternative to traditional frame reinstallation techniques.

The outcome

Following the successful completion of the trials, Anglian Water approved ClickLift™ for use on developer services across its network.

The approval provides developers, contractors and groundworkers with confidence that ClickLift™ can be specified on housing developments intended for adoption by Anglian Water. It also offers a proven way to reduce the time, cost and disruption traditionally associated with raising manhole covers to final road level.

For developments where residents may already have moved in before final surfacing works take place, the benefits are particularly significant. By removing the need to excavate and reinstall ironwork, ClickLift™ helps minimise noise, reduce disruption and avoid unnecessary road closures.

The approval marks an important milestone for ClickLift™ and reinforces its value as a practical innovation that addresses a long-standing challenge faced by developers and groundworkers across the housing sector.

Related Case Studies

Related case study

ClickLift saves housing development time and money

ClickLift has proven to be a huge success, after being installed as part of a £50m housing development in north east Scotland. The developers, family-run Guild Homes (Tayside) Ltd, have been so impressed that they have demonstrated the product to construction colleagues - and intend to use it in further developments.

Guild Homes (Tayside) Ltd

Related case study

Scotland’s first ever ClickLift installations

Wrekin has successfully completed five ClickLift™ installations as part of trials for two separate housing developments in Scotland, marking the first time the product has been used outside England. ClickLift™ raises Wrekin Highway and TriStar frames to suit the final surface layer without the need for digging out and re-installing.

Campion Homes, Tough Construction, Dawn Homes