Decision details

It is recommended that the Assistant Director of Housing approves to waiver in accordance with CSO’s under 18.01, 18.01.01, 18.01.2(d) and 18.01.4(b).
Approves the implementation of Contract Standing Order 18.01 and award a contract for Building Regulations Principal Designer services for the Mallard Place project to RIBA Stage 3 for a fee of £68,255 (excluding VAT).

The direct award of Levitt Bernstein to RIBA Stage 3 will ensure a timely delivery of design and development of Mallard Place to be able to claim GLA SOS grant by March 2026. Levitt Bernstein have an excellent knowledge of the project and of Haringey requirements, having delivered similar services on the Ashley Road Depot and Cranwood House sites for Haringey Council and being appointed as Architect on the scheme.
Levitt Bernstein’s direct award and planned start in providing Building Regulations Principal Designer 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 design indicating that 161 homes can be delivered on the sites Block D and Mallard Place. Current design reflects 150 homes achievable onsite.
It is key to appoint Levitt Bernstein on to the project asap so landscape drawings, parking etc can be developed which will feed into the Architect’s drawings as well as the planning application and help us meet the March 2026 deadline for a SOS grant claim of up to £37,500,000.

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, a future planning submission and start-on-site grant claim 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 150 homes not delivered.