FEBRUARY NEWS BULLETIN

Published: 01/03/2016

Welcome to the February Edition of our end of month Monthly Review.

As is often the case between December through to March, February has been a busy month for reinstatement cost assessment instructions. In addition to the more traditional stock of London period properties Harris Associates has also valued two stunning modern apartment blocks in Islington and a new development in Kilburn. “The new ones are often the trickier. Developers are (perhaps understandably) never keen to divulge the build costs and so it is all about collating not only comparable historic data but looking at the specific New Build Development data. We focus on materials, construction techniques, design, services and technology. At least there were plans available which makes a change!”

This month we have produced a download on “The Challenges of Asbestos Removal” in the context of common parts refurbishment projects. 2015 saw Harris Associates deal with multiple asbestos removal schemes where residents were required to vacate their apartments. The download draws on our experience in advising how best to deal with such projects. The Challenges of Asbestos Removal

Other items of interest for February include the following:

Buckingham Gate – multiple instruction to act as adjoining owners surveyor under the Party Wall Act where a residential mansion block is located adjacent to major redevelopment in St James. “This will keep one of our surveyors busy for the next year or so. Multiple Awards and multiple stages – something to get the teeth stuck into!”

London Bridge / Borough Borders – An old instruction come back to life. Just when we thought this Crossrail instruction was coming to a close the works that were the subject to Awards that have been agreed in phases over the previous 4 years look like they will need re-doing. Major civil engineering solutions required and not straight forward. Here we go again!

St James – One of newest clients has instructed Harris Associates to provide full design, interior design and contract administration services for a major interior refurbishment project which in addition to the common hallways and lift lobbies also incorporates the reconfiguration and re-design of the main entrance lobby, reception area and staff support and welfare areas and an upgrade of security and entry phone systems.

And finally we are pleased to announce that Mazhar Farid and Andy Banister have both entered the Tough Mudder planned for April. They will be raising money for Brain Tumour Research. Training starts in March and all pledges welcome.