New-Build House Development, Cheadle

Approx Value: Phase 1: £200,000, Phase 2: £600,000
Client: Bell Meadow

Introduction:

Cheshire based property development company, Bell Meadow required the construction of two new semi-detached houses on a small plot of land on Gill Bent Road in Cheadle, Greater Manchester. The new properties had to be built quickly and to a high standard and the company sought a reliable main contractor that could deliver the scheme on time and on budget.

The company duly appointed Sustainable Building Services to manage the construction work and the preparation of the site. These preparatory works were to include the demolition of existing structures prior to commencement and the clearance of contaminated land.

The Project:

The project presented a number of important challenges. The first of these was the fact that the site itself was very tight, so access had to be very strictly controlled, as did the movement and storage of plant and materials. Failure to co-ordinate these elements effectively might otherwise have led to delays and rising costs, as well as dissatisfaction on the part of neighbouring property owners.

An important consideration was that of keeping noise and disruption to a minimum because the works were to be carried out within a fully occupied residential area. Good communication with local residents was therefore essential both to allay concerns in advance of the project and to maintain good relations and site safety throughout the period of the construction work.

The project duration was the third key aspect of the project. All operations – ranging from demolition to the fitting out of the finished properties – had to be carried out in a period of 20 weeks.

Results:

Acting as main contractor, Sustainable Building Services managed every phase of the scheme and co-ordinated the activities of various specialist trades in order to deliver the project safely, on budget and within the planned 20 week period.

The resulting houses now incorporate highly effective insulation systems. They were quickly sold into private ownership. Consequently, the project  was delivered to the client’s complete satisfaction.

On the strength of the company's performance, SBS was awarded a second phase of construction on the same site in 2016. This entailed the creation of two new-build residential blocks, comprising ten apartments, on an infill site close to the original development. Work began on the scheme in May 2016.

Client Verdict:

Speaking on behalf of the client, Stuart Cranfield said: “Bell Meadow has had a very productive, long-standing relationship with Sustainable Building Services and its senior managers. Over many years, we have always found the company to be an excellent partner that shares our firm commitment to safety, quality and value. Our new-build scheme at Gill Bent Road is a good example; Sustainable Building Services delivered everything we required of a main contractor: tight cost control, timely completions, excellent communication and a first class result.”