The CQS Solutions’ emphasis on collaborative working came to the fore when the Bowen Consultants arm of the business took on the £3.1 million contract to build affordable homes at a former school site on the Isle of Anglesey.
Knowledge of the project and a willingness to work collectively helped head off potential issues in the pre-contract work stage and will be invaluable as the project goes forward.
CQS Solutions won the contract with the Isle of Anglesey County Council through a competitive fee bid on the Sell 2 Wales platform. The firm is acting as employer’s agent, quantity surveyor and principle designer for the 14 unit development of affordable housing on The Old School Site, Niwbwrch.
The pre-contract work included cost plans, preparation of tender documents plus the challenge of including a fluctuation clause in the tender documents. The CQS Solutions team dealt with this by instructing a solicitor to provide a Clause for the Functions within the preliminary documentation and this was implemented into the contract.
As the work moved into the design and construction phase the team had to meet both Secure by Design and Welsh Government requirements. The CQS Solutions team, led by senior quantity surveyor Alwyn Williams, worked closely with the designers and the client throughout the pre-tender stage to factor in these requirements. As construction got underway, the team continued to work collectively with all those involved to mitigate any issues resolving design.
An additional challenge was the location of a Scottish Power sub-station in the middle of the site, with cables running underground making progress difficult. This mean that CQS Solutions had to work in close collaboration with the client and contractor to make sure that all queries, obligations, legal responsibilities and easements were completed to allow Scottish Power to divert its high voltage cable underground into a safe area of the site and provide information on their requirements for the new sub-station.
“As in many projects, there was and will continue to be a real need to work collectively and discuss any potential issues that may arise with everyone involved in all aspects of the development. Working collaboratively across the whole project is an essential skill for successful commercial management,” said Alwyn.