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Housing Forum demonstration project benchmark
Annual targets (Rethinking Construction and others) Benchmarking information Target improvement Target achievement Key innovation leading to target achievement
Saving on capital cost Estimated scheme cost compared with traditional design-and- build contract –15.5%
£850,000		 –15.9% Volumetric timber frame system and benefits of partnering through the supply chain
Cost predictability Guaranteed maximum price in contract documentation –20% –16% Factory production of pod units gives greater certainty of delivery on time. Partnering enables saving to be explored openly
Cash flow predictability Actual expenditure compared with predicted Actual plus or minus 5% –3.3% Factory production of pod gives greater certainty of delivery to time
Payments on time Variance in payments between client/ contractor and contractor /subcontractor 97.5% payments to target 98% Partnering process enables openness in timing and amount of payments
Time-predictability Planned versus actual achievement 20% 28% Factory production of pod units gives greater certainty of delivery to time
Dispute resolution Resolution at stage 1 No disputes proceeding to stage 2 None Partnering process should bring potential areas of conflict into the open earlier to enable them to be resolved amicably
Health and safety welfare facilities Monthly satisfaction survey of site operatives 95% satisfaction 96% Factory production of pod units gives greater control over assembly methods.
Health and safety Monthly assessment from site safety rating Contractor to score 15 or more Contractor scored +15 Factory production of pod units gives greater control over assembly methods.
The demonstration project combines Harlow Foyer and a later foyer developed by East Thames Housing Group in Redbridge, east London.
Completion date May 2001
  Foyer building Move-on building Total m2 Move-on building Total m2
Gross internal floor area 3270.9 1584.4   1584.4  
Including covered walkways and staircases 3270.9 1834.5 5105.9 1834.5 5105.9
Elemental cost analysis (final account figures)
Element Total cost £ £/m2 % of total cost  
Substructure 298,000 58 5.77 Deep strip foundations, anti-CO2 membrane, concrete slab
Superstructure, frame 201,975 40 3.91 Ground and first floor concrete frame to foyer block, access galleries to move-on block
Upper floors 420,000 82 8.13 First floor concrete slab to foyer block, otherwise timber floor construction
Roof 285,250 56 5.52 Timber roof structure, stainless steel roof covering
Stairs 81,065 16 1.57 Steel staircases
External walls 654,500 128 12.67 Aluminium-framed curtain walling to front of foyer block and stairwells, otherwise timber-framed with aluminium cladding
Windows and doors 184,452 36 3.57 Aluminium framed automatic doors in curtain walling system, otherwise timber
Internal walls and partitions 285,235 56 5.52 Metal-framed partitioning ground-floor foyer, otherwise timber framed and plasterboard
Internal doors 114,700 22 2.22 Timber
Internal finishes        
Walls 91,340 18 1.77 Painted walls, some tiling to wet areas
Floors 108,150 21 2.09 Carpet to circulation spaces, vinyl to wet areas, lino and varnished timber flooring
Ceilings 50,000 10 0.97 Suspended solid and grid system to GF foyer block, otherwise plasterboarded
Fittings and furnishings 477,255 93 9.24 Fully fitted kitchens and bathrooms including oven and hob, plus fridges and furniture in foyer
Services        
Mechanical installations 456,788 89 8.85 Central gas fired boiler plant in foyer. Individual gas fired systems in cooling to reception and equipment rooms
Electrical installations 285,575 56 5.53 All units have individually metered supplies. Includes lightning protection, induction loops
Lift installation 49,529 10 0.96 13-person lift to foyer block. Provision for additional lift in future
Fire Protection 31,851 6 0.62  
Communications        
Installations 187,174 37 3.62 CCTV security system, door entryphone system, personal alarm system
Builder’s work in connection 2145 0 0.04  
Main Contractor Costs        
Prelims, profit and overheads 721,433 141 13.97  
Subtotal 4,986,416 977 96.56  
External works, infrastructure 177,728 35 3.44 Brownfield site requiring utilities. Limited car parking. Refuse chutes, bin stores, cycle racks
Total Construction Cost 5,164,145 1011 100.00