Decision details

Approval to appoint and enter into a contract with H A Marks Construction Ltd for the MMC Sites.

1.              Recommendations

1.1.         The recommendation within this Cabinet Member Report is for the Cabinet Member for Communities & Regeneration to approve the contract award to appoint H A Marks Construction Ltd to undertake the Infill Programme construction works in respect of the following sites for the related contract award values:

·       Ordnance Mews: £1,746,609

·       Helmsdale House: £2,407,819

·       Melrose & Keith: £2,722,959

1.2.         That the £0.9m increased development cost of these schemes and the potential increased cost due to the change in heating solution is managed through a reduction in the wider infills programme through scope changes, value engineering or further deferrals in the pipeline schemes.

2.              Reasons for the Decision

2.1.        As part of the Council’s HRA (Housing Revenue Account) Development Programme, the Council has identified a number of small scale infill sites for development. This will enable the attainment of the Council’s strategic HRA Asset Strategy objectives of:

-        Increasing the supply of affordable housing; optimising value from its assets;

-        Increasing the quality of the HRA Portfolio; and

-        Ensuring the portfolio meets local housing need.

2.2.        The Contract Award Report (Gate 3) was presented to the Commercial Gateway Review Board (CGRB) on 27^thJuly 2021 and on 7^th September 2021. CGRB endorsed the recommendation to the Executive Director of Growth, Planning and Housing to recommend to the Cabinet Member for Communities and Regeneration to award the 3 separate contracts under the JCT Intermediate Contract terms and conditions. This endorsement of the recommendation is for the appointment of H A Marks Construction Ltd (697561) to deliver the sites for RIBA Stages 5 -7.

2.3.         The CGRB Gate 3 report is attached as Appendix B in Part B of this report.

2.4.        In order to maintain progress against the current development programme and to deliver the three projects by November 2022, WCC will be required to enter into the 3 separate contracts by the end of November 2021.

2.5.        The 3 individual contract values form part of the wider infills budget of £68,110,000 that was approved in July 2021.