Decision details

It is recommended that the Assistant Director of Housing approves a waiver of Contract Standing Order 9.01.1 (publication of an appropriate tender advertisement) as allowed under Contract Standing Order 10.01.1.b) on the basis of Contract Standing Order 10.01.2 (d)(ii) (Council’s overall interest); and approves the implementation of Contract Standing Order 9.07.1c and award a contract for an Architect to design the Mallard Place project to RIBA Stage 2 for a fee of £159,000 (excluding VAT).

The direct award of Levitt Bernstein to RIBA Stage 2 will ensure a timely delivery of design and development of Mallard Place, to get planning drawings ready by June 2025 for a planning submission in September/October 2025. Levitt Bernstein have extensive knowledge of the project having already delivered a substantial Feasibility Study of the proposed scheme.
Levitt Bernstein’s direct award and planned start in designing the project in 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 plus commercial space can be delivered on the sites of Block D and Mallard Place. If the design is not commenced within the next month or so there is a large risk that Haringey will not be able to claim substantial grant funding (ie £38.75m based on 155 homes) under the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026, which will greatly affect the viability of delivering the scheme.

The Council could decide not to procure these services or direct award this contract to Levitt Bernstein. This option is not recommended as it would impact the delivery timescales of design and 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 or more not delivered. Mallard Place is also a substantial contributor to meeting the Council’s funding obligations with the GLA, both grant spend and delivery of homes.