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Commercial Road  (works completed while at HTA)

Project Mixed use development including 319 residential unit





Estimated Cost      £34 M

Client                    A2 Dominion

Contractor             Higgins Construction

Description

Due to a fragile economic climate, to formally issue a building Contract the Client required a fixed price construction figure of £30 M, approximately 10% below the contractor’s tender price.

The approved planning drawings did not comply with relevant affordable housing legislation, generally requiring an increase in build area to resolve these design issues, and the local authority were adamant that they would not allow any alterations to the building elevations to facilitate the essential design alterations.

To accept the contract Higgins Construction required a reduction in floor area of 650 m2 to the design proposals, the complete scheme was value engineered over a six week period, all units were made legislation compliant and circulation areas were greatly reduced by over 30%, with three stair and lift cores being removed, delivering an area saving of 1750 m2, taking over £3 M off the original estimated construction costs, with design changes that were imperceptible.