Case Study
Northstowe
Successful delivery of multi utility supply for high profile new town at Northstowe
Inholm, Northstowe is set to be the UK’s biggest new town since Milton Keynes where eventually up to 10,000 new homes are planned. The site is the former RAF Oakington air base in Cambridgeshire and work began onsite in 2017. It is a flag ship project of Homes England who appointed J Sisk & Sons as Principal Contractor. Following a competitive tender, Harlaxton were appointed by J Sisk & Sons as the multi utility provider for phase 2 of the development, connecting 3,500 houses, 5 schools and 28 commercial buildings, and subsequently invited to tender for other infrastructure aspects of the project and directly by Homes England for Phase 3.
“Harlaxton are providing us with a complete multi utility service. Their in depth knowledge, experience and skills in multi utility supply have been a huge help in steering and advising us in order to achieve efficiencies and maximise the investment we are making. They fit perfectly with the vision we have for this exciting, modern development.” Steve Horton, J Sisk & Sons
The challenges
- Scale – an entire new town with a 20 year project time plan.
- Project Management – working closely with all project stakeholders (client, delivery team, suppliers and authorities) to meet the project deadlines and customer specifications, in order to bring about effective project delivery.
- High profile – Successful delivery was crucial as a national flag ship site for the government’s national housing agency, Homes England.
Solution
- Numerous pre contract meetings with all stakeholders.
- Tendered designs revised to suit evolving timescales.
- Pricing solutions and economies of scale – by adding Phase 3 into Phase 2, significant cost and programme benefits could be achieved.
Services provided
- Primary substation with 3.3km of off-site excavation cable.
- Experienced design and project management to ensure design was flexible to cope with alterations to scope.
- Flexibility – as an independent family owned business Harlaxton were able to constantly review and re-design as necessary at very short notice.
Results
- Strong professional relationship with J Sisk & Sons.
- Early decision-making through high level meetings with other business partners/contractors and agencies.
- Awarded contract for phase 3 – the multi utility connections for a further 5,000 homes, 4 schools, 40 commercial units, town centre development and leisure centre within the development.
- Ability to steer and advise the client to achieve efficiencies in order to maximise their investment.
This project has demonstrated Harlaxton’s excellence in service and delivery and increased the company’s already strong professional reputation. It has led to Harlaxton being asked to tender for 5 other Homes England flag-ship projects and the company was also shortlisted for the Sisk Supply Chain Awards 2019, which recognise excellence amongst their suppliers.
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