The Issue

Birmingham City Council needed to deliver 8 capital schemes on 5 PFI sites across 3 distinct but very different PFI contracts. All 6 of the schemes had to be managed over an 8-month period from concept to completion, with 2 of the schemes to be completed within 18 months of commencement of the project. the PFI schemes were made up of the following:

• Scheme 1 and 2 incorporated 3 schools on one site. The brief included the reconfiguration of functional spaces across primary, secondary and SEN schools on the co-located site. The re-designation of rooms and areas included the fit-out of 10 functional spaces, changes to circulation routes and the introduction of a new staircase through the heart of a building. 
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• Scheme 3 involved the development of five classrooms, a new changing room facility, and the introduction of a new hot/cold catering facility. The concept also introduced a mezzanine floor over a dining facility. 
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• Scheme 4 developed a new secondary classroom within a current facility by relocating non-core space and change of use office space. 
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• Scheme 5 – created a new dry science lab facility within a secondary school. This was achieved via re-designation of existing space, a full strip out and refit to incorporate lab specific technical requirements.
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• Scheme 6 – established of an additional, temporary 6^th form teaching space and a designated access model to enable a profoundly disabled pupil to access the mainstream education within a secondary school. This involved creating designated spaces, access, and circulation routes to facilitate multi-floor accessibility. 

All of the schemes were on live sites and during Covid restrictions. The schemes  were completed within 8 months from concept to completion.

In addition

• Scheme 7 involves the optimisation of a School’s estate and includes the creation of a 150-pupil extension modular unit to be delivered in 2021. The unit includes classroom blocks, reception facilities, toilet blocks, administrative and circulation space.
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• Scheme 8 development of a permanent 6^th form provision for a secondary school which replaces a temporary solution. This is a provision within the redlined boundary of the PFI contract but outside of the current School building stock. Completion is set for Summer 2021.

The value of the Schemes within the commission is circa £6,000,000 and all were to be delivered under the conditions of the associates PFI contracts. Schemes 7 and 8 have been developed up to the feasibility and budget setting stage.

Our Brief

We were commissioned to maximise the effectiveness of the project deliverables and drive the complex negotiations with all PFI partners. Our aim was to ensure value for money was achieved from the PFI provider and that the projects were delivered on time and sensitive to the need to work within a functional estate. 

Our Solution

Our solution focused on establishing a working relationship with BCC curriculum planners and BCC managers responsible for Capital Projects. We ensured that the PFI contractors and sub-contractors remained on task and within BCC’s control. We worked closely with the leadership teams of the Schools to shape and advise on the most practical design solutions whilst at the same time providing technical project management to support BCC’s timescales and affordability agenda.

Despite delivering the scheme during the Covid pandemic, the resulting national lockdowns and construction materials shortages, the timescales of the schemes were met and we to within less than 1% of the budget assumptions.

Our ability to deliver relied on our extensive knowledge of capital project management, PFI contract management and the tenacity of the team.

We have been retained by the BCC to deliver the remainder of their Capital programme and to deliver a broader PFI savings strategy initiative. 

Our Achievements

We were able to effect notable savings against PFI contractor submitted stage payments profile through cost control interrogation and active project management.