Contaminated Land Managing Agent - April 03-2006

Background

Barking and Dagenham have commissioned investigations of three estates within a few minutes ride of Barking town centre. 

Thames View Estate occupies 68 hectares and is primarily a housing estate with facilities that include shops, amenity parkland, schools, health centres, etc.  The bulk of the 2,200 homes were built in the mid-1950s on agricultural ‘marshland’.  In 2003 a water company investigating a burst main found that near-surface soils comprised man-made ground containing a variety of contaminants primarily associated with pulverised fuel ash.  Subsequently it was found that ash had been used to raise ground levels prior to building.  This was reported to LBBD’s Housing & Health Department who identified the need for an estate-wide ground investigation and risk assessment.

Neighbouring Harts Lane & Whiting Avenue Estates occupy 12 hectares and are a mixture of high-rise, low-rise and conventional housing with facilities that include shops, play areas, community buildings, etc.  The estates were built in the mid-1970s on land that was previously occupied by housing and industrial users including an asbestos company, tar distillers, plywood manufacturers and road haulage firms.  With a well known industrial heritage and a history that includes landscaping works to encapsulate asbestos containing soils LBBD were keen to evaluate the health risks to residents and the wider risks to the environment.

In 2003 (February), LBBD commissioned Temple to manage the investigation and assessment of the estates.  Final reports for Thames View are still in preparation, but at Harts Lane the assessment concluded that remedial works are required. Temple have been retained to plan and manage the further work and we have begun by securing capital funds from LBBD’s Housing Department, applying for a Supplementary Credit Approval and searching for European funding opportunities.

Temple’s Role

After defining LBBD’s true requirements Temple developed contracts and specifications as required, completed the OJEC tendering process and selected firms that offered best-value to LBBD.  With the right team in place Temple fulfil the role of Managing Agent and do everything required to deliver project milestones on time, to budget and to the quality desired – regularly communicating any change in scope and timescale implications.  Having worked with many local authorities, Temple recognise the importance of good communications and are skilled at ensuring that all information is managed and communicated correctly and project stakeholders including the public and press are informed of developments and interact as needed.

Services Provided

Temple act as Managing Agent and sit in a central management position within LBBD’s project team.  Temple manage LBBD’s overall budget of £885,000. Duties include:

• Project Planning
• Contract Preparation & Procurement
• Project Management
• Technical, Quality & Financial Reviews
• Client Briefings & Public Consultation
• Regulatory Liaison
• Media Management
• Funding Searches & Applications

Benefits

The Managing Agent works as part of LBBD’s team bringing technical & project management expertise.  This results in:

• Effective project planning and controls to save time and money and to ensure deliverables meet expectations
• The authority benefiting from the lessons learnt and experience gained on other contracts leading to greater efficiencies and knowledge transfer
• More effective dialogue with statutory bodies e.g. environment agency and other third parties
• Enhanced trust with members of the Public with an “independent” impartial observer.
• Excellent communications

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