The latest news and views from SAPCA
Extra expense or a clever way to cut costs? Why commission a consultant?
Neil McHugh, chair of SAPCA’s Professional Services Group, explains why choosing to bring a consultant into a sports facility development project isn’t a drain on your resources – in fact, it can ultimately save you time, money and non-essential labour
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hen sports facility projects run into installation problems and costs spiral, it’s often down to a poorly perceived design or
underlying issues which, if addressed, could easily have been rectified in the earliest stages of planning.
Long-term savings Good advice has its price but the cost of skimping on design quality is far higher. Design fees will usually constitute just a small fraction of the total construction expenditure and pale into insignificance when measured against the operating costs over the lifespan of a facility. Independent consultants oversee seven distinct stages of a sports facility project:
Stage 1: Preparation Involving a consultant who is a SAPCA member at the initial stages of your project can add much-needed clarity and direction to your installation. They can identify a clear project brief, examine site information and make recommendations for crucial data which could affect your build – ranging from topographical surveys, to soil investigations and noise and lighting impact reports.
Stage 2: Scheme design Here, a consultant really begins to steer your project, freeing up your valuable time. Experts can prepare concept designs, including outlining services information, landscaping, outline specifications and a preliminary cost plan. They will also put in place an OS Location Plan, proposed layouts to NGB standards, proposed floodlighting spillage plans and review materials being used.
Stage 3: Developed design At this stage of your project, a consultant oversees the preparation of developed
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A consultant’s contribution to a project extends far beyond form and aesthetics
designs including updated proposals for services, landscape, outline specifications and cost plans. Additionally, they will review the environmental impact of your installation (i.e. urban drainage, renewable energy, ecology) to make sure it is not only high quality but sustainable. They will also prepare and submit a planning application via a registered planning portal, as well as reviewing construction strategy.
Stage 4: Technical design This is when a consultant is absolutely indispensable; they will oversee the preparation of technical design information including all services, structural information and specification for sign off. They will also prepare and submit building regulations, prepare National Building Specifications, bills of quantities and priced specification, all to ensure keeping with legislative and quality guidelines.
Stage 5: Tender As your project advances, the role of a project consultant becomes more intensive and cost-efficient. At the ‘tender’ stage, they will agree a tender list with the
client and inform contractors, agree the client’s address for tender return, and collate drawings, specifications and pricing documents. Crucially, they will also provide a scoring matrix, issue amendments throughout the tender process and issue the client with a tender opening form.
Stage 6: Construction Now the all important physical work begins and a consultant will liaise with your appointed CDM Coordinator regarding Health & Safety plans (unless you have allowed them to take on the role, in which case they will individually review their observations and action as applicable).
Stage 7: Use and aftercare When construction is complete, your installation is far from over. There's still the matter of making sure it is fit for purpose and remains so with regular aftercare. A consultant will inform the client of
all the relevant maintenance tasks they will be advised to undertake to prolong the life of their new sports surface and facility, as well as gauge performance testing, a 12 months defect inspection and a final account of the full installation.
sportsmanagement.co.uk issue 3 2014 ©Cybertrek 2014
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