Cost consultancy for Bond Street department store

Project Overview

This landmark collection of buildings is being reimagined into a best-in-class office and retail complex. The redevelopment will preserve the unique character of Bond Street while introducing modern, sustainable design. The 229,000 sq-ft. development will retain 50% of the original building and will see the addition of five floors of contemporary office space, complemented by landscaped outdoor terraces offering striking views across Mayfair. The development is targeted to achieve BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating and an estimated GDV of £1 billion+ on completion.

Project Objectives

OMNIA Consultants were tasked with providing Cost Consultancy Services on the roofing elements of the development, with a target of achieving significant cost savings for the client across all eleven terraced and green roofs of the development.

Project Execution

Scope of Works

OMNIA reacted urgently, undertaking the following services with haste, to maintain the client’s programme:

• Carrying out site surveys, design team meetings, and associated research to inform the review of the existing Scope of Works for the planned roofing works.

• Comprehensive review of all design information and specifications.

• Identifying and recommending alternative products and value engineering options.

• Analysis of tender returns and production of a detailed report with recommendations.

Key Findings and Recommendations

After undertaking a comprehensive review of the design and tender information, OMNIA established that multiple aspects of the roofing specification had been drastically over engineered. It was also apparent that a multitude of high-cost materials had been specified throughout that, although fit for purpose, were unnecessary and carried a considerable premium.

Temporary Roofing Layer

• Due to the tiered roofing layout and the need for multiple trades working on site at different levels, a temporary roofing system had been proposed, consisting of a root barrier layer and hot melt system.

• Recommendation: OMNIA determined that a root barrier at this level of the roofing system was wholly unnecessary and advised that this should be removed from the proposed build up. It was also advised that a more cost effective alternative to the hot melt system, a self-adhesive VCL, could be implemented instead and result in a significant saving.

Insulation

• Tapered Foamglas insulation had been specified to all areas of all roofs throughout the development. While this is widely considered one of the best commercially available products, in terms of thermal performance and compressive strength, it is also the most expensive by a considerable margin.

• Recommendation: OMNIA identified that not all areas of the roofing system required the high compressive strength that Foamglas provides. OMNIA presented several alternative hybrid roofing systems that would meet the requirements for thermal performance and compressive strength. These proposed systems would result in significant savings for the client while also meeting the desired project outcome of achieving BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating.

Detailed Tender Analysis

• Having undertaken a detailed analysis of the roofing tender returns, OMNIA identified a number of items that had been costed far higher than we would have expected. It was also identified that the margins added by the manufacturer of the specified roofing system were far higher than those that would be added by alternative manufacturers, should there have been a competitive tender between the suppliers.

• Recommendation: OMNIA provided a detailed breakdown of the excessively high costs identified in the tender returns and provided details of the costs we would have expected for these items. OMNIA also enlisted the assistance of their extensive network of industry professionals to determine the margins applied by the manufacturer, and what alternative manufacturers would provide the same product at a reduced cost.

Challenges & Solutions

• Material Performance

  The original specification presented to OMNIA had been prepared specifically to meet the client’s performance requirements and the structural and Building Regulations requirements. This presented a challenge when it came to devising alternative solutions that would meet these requirements in a more cost-effective manner. OMNIA were able to draw on their industry expertise to analyse the requirements of the project and offer a multitude of alternative solutions that would meet these requirements while offering a saving for the client.

  
  

• Fire Safety

  Fire safety concerns were priorities by OMNIA, and alternative solutions to the original specification were advised that would improve the project fire safety. The main one being the omission of the hot melt system that would introduce an unnecessary source of heat to the works area, in favour of a self-adhesive VCL layer for the temporary roof covering. All proposals put forward by OMNIA have been targeted to achieve a BRoofT4 rating.

  
  

• Cost Analysis

  While reviewing the costed specification, it became apparent that the manufacturer would not disclose the margins they were operating on for the specified products. OMNIA were able to draw on their network of consultants and experts to determine the true cost of materials and provide alternative costs to the client with confidence.

Client Outcome

The client received a thorough and detailed analysis of the specification for the proposed roofing system and the tendered costs. OMNIA were able to highlight key areas with both the specification and the costs that could be revised in order to bring the project costs down and deliver better value for money. OMNIAs expertise in specification preparation and costs consultancy enabled us to identify pivotal cost saving areas and provide cost effective alternatives. OMNIA demonstrated its capability to support our clients with expert cost analysis, building performance insight, and alternative proposals.

The client is still discussing the alternative proposals put forward by OMNIA with their design team and contractor in order to bring the project cost down even further. To date, a saving of over £300,000.00 has been achieved, with more savings yet to be agreed.