Building sites across Salford, from infill plots in Pendleton to apartment schemes around Chapel Street and the Quays, lose tools, plant and cable to theft every week. Most site owners end up choosing between a solar CCTV tower and a security guard. This guide sets out what each one actually gives you, what it tends to cost, and when it makes sense to use both.
A solar CCTV tower is a mobile unit on a weighted or wheeled base. It has a mast with several cameras, usually including thermal or infrared, and runs on solar panels backed by batteries. Most towers are remotely monitored. When someone enters the site out of hours, the cameras trigger an alert to a monitoring centre, and an operator can issue a live audio warning through a loudspeaker and call keyholders or the police.
A security guard is an SIA licensed officer who is physically on site. They can patrol, check fencing and containers, control the gate, log deliveries and deal with people face to face. They can't be everywhere at once, though, and on a large or spread out site one guard will have blind spots.
Prices depend on site size, contract length and the level of monitoring, so treat these figures as rough guides rather than quotes.
The gap is widest for night and weekend cover. That is when most Salford site thefts happen, and it is also when a guard's hours stack up fastest.
Towers work well on open, fenced sites with clear sightlines, such as groundworks, frame stages and plots where the main risk is plant, fuel, copper cable or tools left in containers. They cover a wide area around the clock, don't take breaks, and record evidence that insurers and Greater Manchester Police can use.
They are also practical where there is no mains power yet, which is common in the early stages of regeneration schemes. The one thing to check is winter performance. December daylight in Manchester is short and often grey, so ask whether the tower has enough battery capacity or a backup generator to run through a dull week without going dark.
A camera can warn someone off, but it can't physically stop them or deal with a situation. A guard is usually the better option if:
Position cameras so they cover the site and don't look into neighbours' windows or gardens. Put up clear CCTV signage, and make sure whoever runs the system handles the footage in line with data protection rules. Residents near Salford sites do complain when cameras overlook their homes, and handling that badly can sour relations with neighbours for the rest of the build.
Ask any provider how quickly they respond to an alarm, who attends if keyholders can't be reached, and whether their monitoring centre can pass verified alarms to the police. For a lot of small and medium sites, a monitored tower with a mobile patrol or keyholding service behind it gives most of the protection of a guard for a fraction of the weekly cost.
Most good towers will, as long as they have enough battery storage or a backup fuel cell or generator for long spells of dull weather. Ask the supplier how many days the tower can run without sun before you sign.
A temporary tower used for security during construction does not normally need its own planning consent. You should still position it with care, keep it off the public highway unless you have agreed otherwise with the council, and avoid overlooking neighbouring homes.
Yes, and on busier sites this is often the most cost effective setup. The guard manages the gate and deliveries during working hours, and the monitored tower covers nights and weekends, when the risk of theft is highest.