Employer's Agent

Following the determination of a former tenant's leasehold interest, the landlord client sought to procure a scheme of repair and enabling works to a property in order to meet the requirements of a new occupier. Following the agreement of a scope of works to satisfy the prospective new occupier the parties entered into an agreement for lease necessitating the procurement that scope of agreed works to the satisfaction of the new occupier.

More Haste, Less Speed and Even Less Cost

The timescales applicable to both the agreement of an appropriate scope of works to satisfy the prospective tenant and the procurement of those agreed works were ambitious. The need for haste was founded in both a loss of income for the landlord client during this void period, together with the requirements of the new occupier to take occupation in good time to enable trading as quickly as possible. 

Sheet Metal and Reinforced Concrete

The principal scope of works components comprised the over-sheeting of the existing roof covering, the replacement of coated metal sheet single skin cladding to the external elevations and internal stripping out. A key consideration within this scope of works was the removal of the assumed 'base build' reinforced concrete mezzanine floor extending throughout the previous occupier's showroom area. Both the attendance of external, weather dependant, roofing and elevation cladding works, as well as the attendance of internal mezzanine floor removal presented timescale uncertainty, as was the robust nature of mezzanine construction.

In order to mitigate the otherwise potential for lost time in the form of pre construction phase commencement input, as well as certainty in relation to costs and delivery of prospective occupier satisfaction through works attendances, satisfying the agreement for lease, an appropriate solution was required.

In light of the principal priorities applicable to the instruction, a design and build procurement route was taken forward in order to reduce the otherwise likely applicable pre construction timescales.  

Procurement and Progress

Ensuring 'best value' was achieved for the attendance of the scheme of works, Employer's Requirements were prepared together with wider tender documents and subsequently put to single stage selective tender. Post receipt of tender returns the 'best value' offer was determined, construction contract entered into and works commenced without delay. Node Building Consultancy acted to procure all requisite statutory approvals within the scope of the Employer's Agent role, further incorporating Contract Administration services.

Th attendance of external works proceeded largely without complication, albeit the internal attendances necessitated the instruction of several variation orders owing to previously, reasonably, unforeseen matters arising. The demolition and removal of the cast in situ concrete mezzanine floor proved troublesome and was found, in part, to afford structural benefit to other building components, necessitating an elemental change of approach.

Works were completed to the satisfaction of the prospective occupier in eighteen calendar weeks, yielding fulfilment of the landlord client's requirements as set out in the agreement for lease. Planning consent was procured ahead of commencement of those applicable works and Building Control approval upon completion.

New Occupier Fit Out Enabled and Income Secured

Through close collaboration with the works contractor and all wider stakeholders, the brief was fulfilled in a timely manner and to the client's cost satisfaction. The key drivers for the attendance of works, being to secure a new occupier and return the property to an income producing asset were also met in tandem.

Added value was derived for the landlord client via Node Building Consultancy's determination of the most appropriate procurement method, ensuring 'best value' was achieved via a competitive tendering exercise and through quality, progress, authoritative documentation adherence and cost monitoring through the construction phase.