Case studies

National Grid : Barnstaple

Description: Construction of a new regional depot comprising of a combined administration, store, warehouse and seminar building along with a four bay vehicle workshop set in a secure compound on the outskirts of Barnstaple, Devon. Additional facilities included bespoke transformer, cable and pole stores, fueling stations, weighbridges and staff, visitors and operational vehicle parking.

Contribution: Project & Cost Management, Employer's Agent

Key Issues: remediated, brownfield site; phased construction and handover; relocation of existing administration and operational staff, equipment and stores from the existing premises to the new facility; provision of on site energy generation; significant retaining structures

National Grid

Description: Annual insurance reinstatement valuations for National Grid's property portfolio. The estate comprises of 85 operational and investment properties, valued at circa £450m, located throughout the South West England, Wales and the Midlands.

Contribution: Rolling annual programme of insurance reinstatements for National Grid's operational depots, administration centres, training facilities, warehouses, workshops, garages as well as investment properties which include retail outlets, offices and warehouses

Key Issues: complex array of properties; liaison with brokers and insurance managers; annual review of all properties to ensure insurance provision accurately effects current market conditions and trends

Cabot Park; Avonmouth

Description: The construction of 24 light industrial/commercial units ranging in size from 1,000sqft to 16,000sqft with associated access roads, parking and delivery bays

Contribution:

Cubix have been appointed as Project Managers, Contract Administrators and Cost Managers for the development. This role includes: Trade package procurement including negotiating final tender prices and agreeing individual contract terms and conditions; Drafting Construction Management and Design Team appointments; Providing strategic cost advice including assessing monthly valuations, agreeing variations and final accounts with each trade package

Key Issues: Phased development to align programme of works with sales; extensive piling; Working alongside Network Rail’s main line track which includes the piling, steel erection and cladding packages requiring BAPA approval; Flexible design to allow the units to be merged or sub-divided as required by purchasers; Installation of mezzanine levels and amenity blocks; Collating and issuing a suite of warranties on completion of the works

Sharpak

Description: £12m extension and fit out of Sharpak's extruded packaging manufacturing plant in Bridgewater, Somerset. This role included the careful strategic planning of the works to ensure that the plant remained live throughout the works and the new equipment was seamlessly integrated into the existing manufacturing process without effecting production.

Contribution: Project and Cost Managers for three distinct phases of work to update and extend separate production lines

Key Issues: working within the confines of existing premises; strategic planning to ensure that the plant remained live throughout the works and the new equipment was seamlessly integrated into the existing manufacturing process without effecting production; distribution, installation and testing of specialist services including compressed air, 3 phase power and process gas and chemicals; programme management of the new equipment including the hook up to services

National Grid : Chesterfield

Description: Construction of a new £18m regional depot including hi bay warehouse, administration offices, specialist stores and vehicle workshop in a secure compound on the outskirts of Chesterfield.

Contribution: Employer's Agent, Project and Cost Manager from conception to completion.

Key Issues: a series of diverse properties constructed on a brownfield site which involved the demolition of the existing buildings; liaison with key stakeholders including regional managers; decanting equipment and stores from the existing premises

National Grid : Northampton

Description: £12m extension, reconfiguration and refurbishment of an existing industrial unit to provide a new depot including hi bay warehouse, support offices incorporating the regional disaster recovery centre and specialist secure stores in Northampton.