bmj1

Slight side note: it's a funny thing but I saw this on my own project - a small fortune of windows sitting on the truck (held to ransom so to speak) - but nobody in the accounts team at the window company thought to ask for payment before the day of delivery !

I'm pretty sure we double boarded ours for stability

I should add that the project I referenced is a demolition and new build, so there should be fairly few unknowns if the design work is done right.

We agree. It's possible in theory, but a lot has to go right to work for it to work, and 99 times out of 100 it goes wrong.

For what it's worth, we're taking a different approach on the project I'm currently working on (it's a roughly £3m-£4m project) Hiring a PM/CM/QS team to run the project and subs PM/CM/QS team will be paid a fixed fee for the project (we have divided the project into set payment milestones also, to de-risk for client and keep incentives aligned: e.g. demolition, groundworks, etc) They will assist in hiring the prelims (site manager, welfare, etc) and oversee project on day-to-day basis. All subs will then be tendered and hired on fixed-fee basis (everything will be itemised and costed by QS) This means we take on the main contractor risks (and their margin also) - but still keep the tradies working on fixed-fee - which is the only way. Essentially, we are acting as main contractor. I've been talking to someone recently who ran a big high-end project on open-book with a main contractor (and they've done many projects previously), it's been a disaster. I couldn't recommend this approach or see it working unless the client is highly experienced with many years in the game and has a trusted partner to act as main contractor, and even then I'd be skeptical, the incentives are simply too misaligned (even if they don't appear to be).

I'd like to add, a high quality QS is worth their weight in gold. A poor one will cause more trouble than they are worth. You need to complete all your drawings and spec, then find a good QS to build your boq and tender.

It's amazing how much you learn the first time. I'm working on my second self build right now (it's a community project), following my own self build. I plan to check every single detail myself. Nobody else actually cares. Not to the same level.

Are all LPAs required to offer this ? Our planning consultant is advising that the relevant LPA "won't do reconsultations any more"

Hi all, Is it possible (with agreement from planning officer) to amend drawings and then consult again ? Or is a new S73 required ? I.e. max 1 consultation per S73

True, but at this stage we just don't need it. We're wrapping up.

Pleased to share that they took away the old material and delivered a clean batch of aggregate with far fewer fines. Just shows the care needed to deliver a suds compliant end result !

Thanks all

I've had this photo through from the supplier of the replacement aggregate. What do you guys think ? Does it look ok ?

Update: ok, so a few learnings to share: Our supplier has taken ownership and raised with their supplier. It appears that we got the last dregs of their supplier's MOT Type 3 supply, such that we were getting all the fines "at the bottom of the barrel" - so to speak - i.e. the fines content was disproportionate, even though it came from the Type 3 'bay' Their supplier has a fresh delivery of type 3 coming in today They will send us photos to confirm And then our supplier will do a swap tomorrow AM A huge pain - and it's cost us at least 1 full man day in labour which we're going to have to bear - but it is what it is.

100%. It's easy enough to check by pouring water on it and seeing if it pools or drains. I've dug it back up now and piled it up, and I'm working on getting the supplier to swap it. Doing it by hand isn't economical.