A major roof replacement project is underway at the Telephone Exchange Building at His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth. The project, valued at just over £1 million, commenced in winter 2025 and is due for completion in summer 2026, and is being delivered in partnership with the Royal Navy and the UK Ministry of Defence.
Replacing the roof of the building presents a unique challenge, requiring a solution that protects both the building itself while keeping the outputs running uninterrupted. To enable the works, a purpose‑designed temporary scaffolding canopy has been installed across the entire building footprint.
The structure, delivered by Ideal Scaffolding, forms a protective, weather‑resistant enclosure, allowing roofing works to continue in a controlled environment regardless of wind or rain. This approach reduces programme risk, protects the work space beneath the roof and keeps the project on track through the most challenging conditions.
The scale of the works involved is significant. More than 26 kilometres of scaffold tube, have been used alongside over 2,500 metres of scaffold board. The structure incorporates more than 114,000 specialist scaffold fittings, 48 ladder beams, nearly 200 wall plates and hundreds of structural fixings, with additional sheeting and roof coverings fully enclosing the building. At its peak, the roof and access systems alone account for more than 19 tonnes of steel, underlining the engineering complexity involved before roofing works could begin.
The roofing works, delivered by Concept Building Services (Southern), continue to advance well. The team is currently focused on completing the upper roof slating, marking a visible step towards restoring the building’s long‑term protection. Once complete, the new roof will significantly improve resilience, reduce the risk of water ingress and help protect the building for decades to come.
As the roof replacement progresses towards completion later this summer, the Telephone Exchange Building is a clear example of how complex, high‑risk infrastructure upgrades can be delivered safely and collaboratively, while maintaining the use of the building throughout the programme.
