Barchester Low Rise: a case study of a management contract for remedial work to a large housing scheme

A case study of substantial remedial work to 580 dwellings was undertaken. Certain provisions and consequences had to be taken into account. These included: uncertainty of the extent of the defects, it was essential to remedy with tenants in occupation; a pilot contract approach taking 37 dwellings of different types and situations in order to identgy the extent of the defects; test buildability of design solution; monitoring of costs; refining design accordingly; monitoring costs to establish productivity on a full production run; the need for a management contract to ensure that the objectives of the pilot project were carried out; selection of a management contractor in competition; preparation of tender documents; evaluation of contractors’ submissions; appointment of a management contractor; monitoring the pilot contract; measuring performance arising from revisions to design and familiarity with the work; innovative use of temporary shelters over dwellings; feasibility studies on optimum annual spend on the main contract; negotiation of main contract on a management basis; main contract documentation; post-contract cost control against target and in relation to resources used; review meetings; risk analysis.