Quayside Development
Project Overview
Project: Redevelopment of fire damaged site to provide 3 commercial/retail units & nine apartments
Client: Novus Homes
Contract value: £1.9m
Damaged extensively by fire, the boarded up facade of Gray’s Arcade had been a blot on the otherwise picturesque quayside scene in Wells-next-the-Sea, for a number of years.
Following a number of failed attempts to bring the site back into use and with the threat of a CPO hanging over it, the building was sold to developer Novus Homes. Their scheme, designed by SMG Architects, saw the demolition of the damaged amusement arcade. It was replaced with a large modern construction designed to complement the other buildings on the quayside, make the most of the wonderful views across the marshes towards the sea, and provide premises that would promote economic activity in the town. The Contractors on the project were Gill Building.
Quayside Development, Wells-next-the-Sea
Quayside Court delivers nine luxury apartments with wonderful views over historic Wells harbour. These are sited above three retail units in a prime location.
Daniel Connal Partnership acted as project managers and project quantity surveyors on the redevelopment.
Having initially established a cost plan for the scheme we implemented a two-stage design and build tender process to select the contractor. We prepared a pre-construction services agreement with the successful contractor where alternative construction methods were examined against the cost plan and performance requirements. The second stage tender was arrived at with sub-contractor packages competitively tendered and the contract sum agreed within the cost plan.
The project presented a number of challenges; a restricted quayside site bordering a busy road, multiple party wall awards, boundary issues, adjoining/adjacent listed buildings and extensive archaeological surveys, all of which were resolved successfully. The project was commended for the way in which it kept disruption to local businesses, neighbouring residents and holiday makers to an absolute minimum.
Then, just weeks before completion, a tidal surge flooded the development. In these testing circumstances we were particularly pleased to deliver this successful and high profile project on budget.