Our Mission

Client: Watmos Community Homes
Value: £1,200,000
Duration: January 2018 - June 2018

Ethelred Estate

Key Features

  • Etec previously carried out works to the Ethelred Estate on behalf of Watmos in 2016. Such was our success on this scheme (90% resident satisfaction level) we were invited to tender for Phase 2 of the scheme with works to be completed in 2018.
  • This project involved refurbishment works to 5 occupied blocks including concrete repairs, structural repairs, brickwork, windows and doors, balconies, roofing repair and replacement, decorating, and internal communal works
  • The blocks remained fully occupied throughout the works and featured a mix of tenants, leaseholders, and vulnerable residents.
  • Our site set up, programme of works, and scaffolding was erected so as to maintain use of the bin stores on site. This included maintaining safe pedestrian routes around the site as well as access for the waste collection service.
  • The blocks featured garages on the ground floor. We managed to retain access to the garages for the residents so they could continue to use them for personal storage.
  • Given the limited parking on site we made efforts to limit our requirements on site to leave as much parking as possible for the residents use. This included car sharing, use of public transport, and careful sequencing of trades to minimise our presence. We also deigned our scaffolding to allow the underpass access to the car parks to remain in use.
  • Site security and safety was an issue given the multiple points of ground floor access to flats and gardens as well as fire escapes. Our scaffold was erected to maintain use of these access points but also so that it could not be easily accessed by intruders. Hatches and ladders were secured and locked at the end of each day. Scaffold alarms were also fitted with extensive signage to deter intruders.

 

Delivering the Works

  • Following contract award we held a project inception meeting with WATMOS. This included agreeing monitoring systems, quality control, risk management, and exchanging information on residents and other stakeholders to shape our stakeholder engagement strategy.
  • Our programme was agreed with WATMOS to enable works to be undertaken simultaneously to all blocks so that works could be completed as quickly as possible thereby limiting disruption and cost. Once our programme was agreed we developed our resource schedule and carried out procurement of sub-contractors.
  • We organised a Meet the Contractor event for the residents and other stakeholders to meet our team, understand the project, ask questions, and give us their input. This helped to shape our Traffic Management and Deliveries schedule to minimise disruption and also to plan how we would keep stakeholders informed at all times.
  • Site set up and scaffold erection was carried out to enable surveys of the works area. Once surveys were completed the agreed CVI and RFI procedures were followed to quantify and agree the repairs and refurbishments to be carried out.
  • We delivered a pilot block and carried out a Post Completion Review upon completion. This included reviewing overall performance and identifying and recording any lessons learnt. This was repeated for each block as the programme progressed.
  • The works required the removal of lights, rainwater goods, and other external fittings. TV satellite dishes were removed and mounted on our scaffold to maintain service provision for the residents which was greatly appreciated.
  • We proceeded with concrete repairs as well as the works to windows, doors, and balconies and reinstated all external fittings following inspection and sign off. Once WATMOS were satisfied that the works had been completed satisfactorily we sequentially struck the scaffold from each elevation and block and demobilised our site set up.

Minimising Disruption

Developing a relationship with the stakeholders was a key element of this project. These included residents, leaseholders, vulnerable residents, owners of local businesses on the ground floor of the blocks, and WATMOS staff. Having completed the previous phase of this scheme at the Ethelred Estate we were already known to all stakeholders. This enabled us to build on our established relationships to successfully manage stakeholders on this project. We knew that stakeholders already had a positive perception of the company based on the customer feedback forms our RLO had collected on reviewed from the previous project. We used this feedback to shape and improve our methods. These included:

  • Our dedicated RLO was on site to help WATMOS residents throughout the full duration.
  • The carried out individual visits with all residents in order to build a profile of their needs and requirements. This was particularly important in the case of vulnerable residents and making contact with their family members and carers.
  • Works were scheduled with the residents in mind making allowance for their appointments or visits from carers and health workers
  • Daily visits with the residents from our RLO and Site Manager and an open door policy at our site office to answer questions.
  • We assisted residents with moving their belongings to allow works to be carried out and took care to put them back in the desired location following completion. All required floor and dust protection was also laid to ensure that residents’ belongings would not be damaged
  • Prior to the works commencing we distributed Etec leaflets to the residents and leaseholders informing them of our presence on their estate and what works we would be undertaking over the 20 weeks contract programme. We also kept them informed through regular update letters throughout the project.
  • Coffee mornings were arranged once a fortnight throughout the contract where we invited the residents to join us for tea and coffee and ask any questions they may have.
  • Local businesses were consulted ahead of project commencement to establish methods of limiting the effect of the works. This included maintaining access to entrances, fire exits, and delivery areas.
  • A project directory was established to enable easy and effective communication with the WATMOS team along with a reporting and meeting schedule to keep them informed off all developments on site.