Decision details

It is recommended that the Assistant Director of Housing approves to waiver 8.03 under CSO 10.01.1 b) and approve of the waiver and award in accordance with CSO’s 10.01.1b, 9.07.1(c) and 10.01.2 d) (ii) (iii) and approves the implementation of Contract Standing Order 10.01.1 b) and award a contract for Building Safety assurance services for the Mallard Place project to RIBA Stage 4 for a fee of £73,580 (excluding VAT).

The direct award of Bureau Veritas will ensure a timely delivery of design and development of Mallard Place to be able to claim GLA SOS grant by March 2026. Bureau Veritas have an excellent knowledge of the project.
Bureau Veritas’ direct award and planned start in providing Building Safety assurance services on the project in January 2025, 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 c168 homes can be delivered on the sites Block D and Mallard Place.

It is key to appoint Bureau Veritas on to the project asap. Bureau Veritas will need to review designs and audit reports to assure that Haringey Council are meeting the requirements of the Building Safety Act on the project and discharging the relevant Gateways correctly (and meeting the programme) in time, so the March 2026 deadline for a SOS grant claim of up to £42,000,000 is met.

The Council could decide not to procure these services or direct award this contract to Bureau Veritas. 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 168 homes not delivered.