Decision details

To accept the fee proposal received from Ridge and Partners LLP to act as Principal Designer (CDM) Consultants for the redevelopment of the former Monkscroft School Site and for CBC to enter contract with them.

In recent months we have been working to appoint the consultants required to work as a wider design team with the intention of submitting a planning application for the site later this year.

The project team decided to approach the market via the NHSSBS Framework (Lot 6 - Principal Designer Services), which had been utilised on other appointments recently, and contacted companies which specialises in providing Principal Designer services.

Out of 32 available companies within the framework; the project team analysed each company against fee rates provided, relevant experience etc., This led to an initial shortlist of 10 companies. A further filtering exercise led to 5 companies which were contacted. Of which 2 companies where deemed unacceptably low compared to our benchmark. We had initially obtained approval to appoint Whiteley Eaves Ltd. However, due to this company’s lack of communication and response we decided to not complete the appointment and therefore stopped the contract from being executed. We contacted and informed Whiteley Eaves Ltd about the position and our decision.

Subsequently we revisited the previous Value for Money exercises and shortlisting process and identified Ridge and Partners LLP among the best qualified companies closest to the previous shortlisted companies.

Ridge and Partners LLP was therefore identified as a suitable supplier and able to provide the expertise required within the required services. The role of Principal Designer/Health & Safety Advisor means that the role set out in the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and updates thereto Health and Safety on behalf of the Client who owns this responsibility throughout the duration of the project.

The proposal is to enter contract with Ridge and Partners LLP following the described procurement process for the redevelopment of the former Monkscroft School site to provide new affordable homes to develop the site from concept design stage at RIBA Stage 2 through to RIBA Stage 7.

An alternative option would have been to procure the design and technical services as one multi-disciplinary appointment. However, this scenario was assessed, and found that a project of this complexity would need to have independent consultants appointed to develop and support the design process – this approach was rejected earlier in the procurement planning process.

We have worked with Publica around the procurement process, and internal consultation within the development team along with support from the externally appointed Project Management team, TSA Riley.
We received feedback and support from Publica as we have demonstrated a process which led to best value.

The principle of redeveloping the site is supported by the overarching governance bodies for new supply comprising CBC/CBH Senior Officers at SHDG and Cabinet Member Housing Working Group.