ABOUT US

The first, essential, stage of any Alliance project is to define our client’s requirements, learn about the site, customer base, and indicative budgets and to establish the level of competition to our proposed plans.

A Project Questionnaire and Access Agreement will be completed at this stage to register the project on the UK Leisure Framework and to determine the scope of pre-construction services.

Aligned to RIBA Stage 2, this stage requires a relatively low proportion of fees (compared to total project value). It provides an interim step for project brief development and agreement before progressing to the next stage of ‘Cost Certainty’.

At the completion of this work, the client will receive a RIBA Stage 2 package of works as detailed in the Fee and Scope provisions, including:

• Concept layouts/designs
• Detailed surveys
• Build cost plan that should be no more than +/- 10% of the eventual contract sum, to be confirmed following detailed design
• Capital investment summary
• Equipment and fee summary
• Stage 2 report

Following the Cost Confidence work, and to progress to the final pre-construction gateway, Alliance Leisure will develop the proposals to a stage of ‘Cost Certainty’.

This proposal will align the RIBA Stages 3 and 4 in an effective and efficient manner as outlined in the programme appended.

At the completion of this work, the client will receive a full suite of Development Proposals including Principal Contractor, Equipment, FFE, Project Management and associated services, including:

• Development Management Agreement
• Principal Contractor proposals
• Equipment and FFE proposals
• Capital Investment Summary
• Collateral Warranties
• Project Programme
• Risk Register
• Fixed Contract Sum

Once we reach this stage, final preparations for project mobilisation will be put in place. The Development Management Agreement (DMA) will become the overarching document between Alliance Leisure and the client for delivery of the project, detailing the final project building and equipment costs and referencing the building contract. Typically work would be contracted using one of the Joint Contract Tribunal (JCT) or (SBCC) UKLF suite of documents.

• Alliance Leisure will enter a delivery and build contract
• Alliance will be the Employer in the building contract, delivering this on behalf of the client team via a standard suite of UK Leisure Framework approved documents
• Warranties are provided by the Building Contractor and all significant sub-contractors and consultants with the client being named as beneficiary
• The timescale will be committed

During the Construction phase (RIBA Plan of Work Stage 5 onwards) Alliance Leisure will remain hands on within the project to ensure its success. Alliance Leisure employs an independent Employer’s Agent through both the pre-construction and construction phases of the project for technical management of the project. All these tasks will be overseen by Alliance Leisure and the client can have as much input into these processes as they require.

Typical EA duties during the construction phase can include:

• Managing the process to execute the construction contract with the approved contractor
• Establishing procedures to monitor design completion and sub-contract procurement
• Overseeing the design completion process and manage contributions from the client and advisors
• Managing construction contract provisions including issuing notices and certificates
• Undertaking regular interim payment valuations and issuing regular cost update reports
• Agreeing variation costs with the contractor
• Undertaking regular site visits and chairing regular progress meetings
• Establishing and administering a robust change control and instruction process
• Establishing a process to obtain regular quality reports from retained client advisors
• Ensuring that all required commissioning and testing is completed, and that statutory compliance is achieved and certified
• Preparing snagging lists including arranging and attending pre-handover inspections
• Issuing the certificate of practical completion
• Agreeing the final account with the main contractor

Alliance Leisure are fully aware of the often-underestimated importance of coordinating plans for the end of construction to facilitate a successful handover. As Development Partner, we lead and support the planning of these final activities at the earliest opportunity and offer bespoke assistance and solutions to ensure the most successful opening period possible. This phase broadly aligns with RIBA Plan of Work Stage 6: Handover and Close Out.

Typical project management issues that need to be considered during the completion phase are:

• Practical completion
• Soft completion
• Aftercare
• Effective marketing through TA6