In reference to your feature on utilities (13 October) we have been developing a scheme at Ashton Moss, east Manchester, over the past seven years.
As we develop more than 200 acres of land, we have funded a primary electricity substation and other substations.
We have employed a large utility company that offers to project manage the delivery of electricity, gas and water to take the hassle away from clients such as Amec Developments.
On eight projects to date this company has failed to deliver to agreed programmes, despite our best attempts to put in place systems to aid communication between the parties.
The terms and conditions of engagement fully protect the utility companies and, quite simply, customers are held to ransom. Quotes and electrical design work are always late, leaving little time, if any, for landowners to enter into wayleave agreements – under which the utility companies maintain supply lines on their land – in a timely manner.
Michael Broadhead, project director, Amec
