Client: Office for the Deputy Prime Minister
To improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the fire and rescue control system, the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister elected to replace the existing 46 centres with eight purpose-built Regional Control Centres throughout England - of 31,100 sq ft each. They were to be procured on a leasehold design and build basis with the buildings being developed by the private sector.
The acquisition process had to fulfil a number of criteria. Firstly, it had to strictly adhere to EC procurement procedures and secondly, the buildings needed to be saleable in the private sector investment market.
Mark Trowell's role was to identify suitable locations for each of the eight offices. We also proactively contacted the development and agency markets to encourage them to respond to the OJEU notice advertising the tender. From a long list of potential sites, the next stage was to inspect each of them, evaluating all the options and issue full design and legal documentation to the short listed developers. Local market knowledge and experience of the development market was key to this stage of the process.
The project was highly political, with strong opposition from the Fire Brigade Union. However, seven of the eight offices have now been committed to, and the client’s objectives – to create new facilities in the most cost effective manner, and for the private sector to take the risk of its provision – was wholly met.
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