Project of the week

WHAT: A mixed-use scheme in the historic seaside town of Whitstable, Kent, best known for oyster fishing. The scheme is centred on an art gallery and performing arts space, the Horsebridge Centre, which has a copper roof resembling an upturned boat. The project included 17 flats, 17 apartments, five shops, a bandstand and a Zizzi restaurant.

WHEN: The project began in 1999 with an architectural competition and work finished in June 2005.

VALUE: £6.3m, up from the original budget of £5.5m due to unforeseen problems and design changes.

CONTRACT: JCT Private without quantities

WHO: QS: Dearle & Henderson, developer: Banbury Estates through its subsidiary West Beach Homes, architect: Clague, client: Canterbury City Council, contractor: Messrs A E Ansley (Builders) of Whitstable, structural engineers: BSF consulting engineers, M&E: The Chapman Bathurst Partnership

NASTY SURPRISES: Work was stopped for a year after the site was found to be contaminated and had to be cleaned. Clean- up plant and equipment is still working away within a rotunda building and in a chamber located beneath the square. Contamination problems included:

• Water tanks measuring 10 m deep and 4 m across were discovered unexpectedly below ground. These were left in situ and designed around.
• Asbestos was found in the ground following the wartime bombing of earlier buildings on site.
• A sewer was found in a different location to that shown on services drawings requiring a new plan to be drawn-up.
• A 1.8 m wide brick culvert (wastewater pipe) was found on the site.

QS VIEW: “The agreement between West Beach Homes and Canterbury City Council placed all risks with the developer and so careful cost control and monitoring was essential to limit and control West Beachs' financial risk. A 'partnering' approach between all of the parties ensured that the risks were identified as early as possible and managed during the construction phase.

A number of substantial unforeseens extended the time on site and increased costs but there was full awareness among the parties and the incorporation of these additional works was a managed process. These, together with enhancements to the design and specification of the accommodation to improve the saleability, led to an anticipated final account in the region of £6.3 m” – Philip Darby, Deale & Henderson