Residential under 4 storeys

Budget, programme and quality are the construction manager’s mantra, and Colin Macleod achieved a triple whammy on this site.

Macleod completed the development comfortably within budget, encouraging his subcontractors to look at the design and provide value engineering input and seeking out cost-saving opportunities.

He also completed seven months in advance of the programme. With a predicted slowdown in the housing market, Colin had moved to improve sales potential by providing completed show homes at the earliest opportunity. This sales strategy paid off to such an extent that he had to accelerate construction to keep up with demand, introducing mobile cranes to accelerate the bricklaying programme.

He constantly monitored standards, rectifying any substandard work immediately, and presented only top-quality plots to customers. The result was that the project won the coveted NHBC Pride In The Job award.

Before construction began, he visited the neighbouring primary school to talk about the dangers of playing on a building site. As the buildings went up, he gave 90 children a tour of the site and invited them to take part in a safety poster competition, presenting prizes to the winners whose productions are now used in all Bellwinch developments.

Macleod attended all tender meetings to secure the subcontractors he wanted, and held prestart meetings to make clear the project objectives. A hands on manager who knows the job backwards, Macleod got the most out of the site team by recognising good performance and praising operatives for contributions of value.

Silver

Peter Marsh I Construction manager, Bewley Homes,Avalon, Woolhampton, phase C: refurbishment of eight apartments and construction of 42 houses and apartments, completed in 100 weeks, £13m.

The comfort of the brown long-eared bat was central to the success of Peter Marsh’s project, or, to be exact, the construction of heated roosting facilities for a colony of them. The bats lived in disused monastic school buildings due to be demolished to make way for the new-build element of this development.

With the bat breeding season taking place in mid-May, Marsh had to build by then a series of garage blocks with specially designed heated roosting facilities. This would let him relocate the bats and proceed with demolition. If he didn’t hit the date, the programme would be delayed by six months until the next bat relocation window appeared.

Using diplomacy and careful management, Marsh got to first base on the final phase of this crucial project for Bewley – the largest commitment in terms of size and cost that the company has ever undertaken.

And that was just the start of this complicated phase. With the new-build element designed to reflect the features of the refurbished grade II-listed school, Marsh gave a masterly demonstration of how to co-ordinate many trades to ensure the correct detailing of the complementary materials.

One of the major complications of the new build was the huge quantity of stonework required. It was a real challenge for modern bricklayers, surmounted only with the aid of Marsh’s encouragement along with continual and meticulous checking.

A champion of craftsmanship, Marsh also met the commercial imperatives. For example, to satisfy the presentational focus demanded by the sales team, he planted communal garden areas well in advance of completing the adjacent construction areas. The result is an inspiring project that delivers on all levels.

Highly Commended

• Jason Albrecht MCIOB (Hearthstead Homes) for 235 Harrogate Road, Leeds
• David Betts (Lovell Partnerships) for Northfields, Dell Rose Court, Norwich
• Michael Donkin MCIOB (Bewley Homes) for Wykeham Place, Winchester
• Gordon Flint (HBG Construction) for Thorncliffe House, Manchester
• Steve Head (Bewley Homes) for Wilbury Lodge, Sunningdale
• Rodney Hodges (Rok) for Ocean Housing Project, St Austell
• Gerwyn Meredith (Cowlin Construction) for Woodley Court, Cardiff
• Dave Pirie (Denne Construction) for Paines Brook Court, Harold Hill
• Alex Richards (Bellwinch Homes) for Lions Ridge, Grays, Essex
• John Seacombe (Bewley Homes) for The Hatch, Mapledurwell