Decision details

The Cabinet Member for the Economy is recommended to:  

1.    Approve that Appendix 1 and 2 are not for publication on the basis that they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the authority holding that information) as set out in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

2.    Approve the appointment of PRP Architects LLP to provide professional ‘Design Team’ services consisting of:

* Lead Architect

* Lead Designer (to coordinate design)

* Planning Consultant

* Landscape Architect

* Structural and Civil Engineers

* M&E Consultant

* Sustainability & Energy Consultant

* Plus some proprietary survey work (geotechnical assessment, prelim ecological appraisal, arboricultural impact assessment and others)

The newly required Building Safety Act (BSA) Principle Designer (PD) role will be commissioned under a separate procurement exercise and be appointed to  sit within the ‘client tram’, independent from other ‘designers’.

The Design Team are to redevelop each of the four independent sites through Gateways 2 – Planning and 3 – Procurement (RIBA Stages 1 – 4) of the Council’s Development Gateway process. The Headline Programme up to Planning is shown below.

3.    To note individual budget allocations including 10% contingency (at a total of £1,922,008) from the existing budget envelope as set out below:

     i)        Barclay Close for a value of £351,983.50

    ii)        Becklow Gardens for a value of £477,582.88

   iii)        land behind the Grange for a value of £417,859.75 and

   iv)        land adjacent to Jepson House for a value of £674,581.88

4.    To note that this sets the build standard to aspirational on all four projects combined, with all four projects independent of each other.

Option 2 has been recommended as the preferred approach. The Council’s priorities are still aligned in delivering new affordable Council housing in the borough and the procurement process has produced a good result in compliance with Council’s Contract Standing Orders. 

The Decision to award this contract will enable the council to deliver on the Four sites housing developments in the borough, a crucial step in delivering targets on the provision of affordable homes.

Option 1: Do nothing (not recommended)

Option 2: Proceed with Appointment (recommended)