Decision details

Request a waiver in line with Contract Standing Order 10.01. 1. b) (Council’s overall interest)

Decision Maker: Assistant Director for Housing

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decision:

It is recommended that the Assistant Director of Housing approves a waiver by waiving off CSO 8.03 and an approval of the waiver and award in accordance with CSO’s 10.01.1b and 9.07.1(c) and award a contract for Civil and Structural Engineering services for the Mallard Place project to RIBA Stage 3 and build contract preparation for a fee of £159,150 (excluding VAT).

Reasons for the decision:

The direct award of Civic Engineers Limited to RIBA Stage 3 and preparation of the build contract tender will ensure a timely delivery of design and development of Mallard Place to be able to claim GLA SOS grant by March 2026. Civic Engineers have a detailed knowledge of the project and Haringey requirements. The site is within an area safeguarded for development of the Crossrail 2 tunnels and so a key aspect of the engineering work will be understanding this in greater detail and working out how to construct tall building with this imposed constraint. Civic Engineers are also working with London Borough of Hackney at the moment on the same issue so are very familiar with the process, which greatly assists in achieving the grant SOS claim deadline of March 2026.
Civic Engineers direct award and planned start in providing Civil and Structural Engineering services on the project in October/November 2024, will be crucial in helping to achieve Haringey’s commitment to build 3000 Council homes by 2031, with Levitt Bernstein’s initial feasibility indicating that 155+ homes can be delivered on the sites Block D and Mallard Place.
It is key to appoint Civic Engineers Limited on to the project asap as there will be an urgent requirement for structural, drainage & attenuation design as well as foundation design which will feed into the Architect’s drawings and help us meet the March 2026 deadline for a SOS grant claim.

Alternative options considered:

The Council could decide not to procure these services or direct award this contract to Civic Engineers Limited. This option is not recommended as it would impact the delivery timescales of design, a future planning submission and award of build contract by March 2026. If the March 2026 date is not achieved, this would ultimately impact the Council’s Housing Delivery programme aspirations of providing much-needed new Council homes, with potentially 155 homes not delivered

Publication date: 26/11/2024

Date of decision: 21/11/2024