Name: Chris Adams ACIOB
Employer: Bewley Homes
Project: St Johns Place, Odiham
Contract: Design & build
The fast-track programme, restricted working space within the walled garden of a Grade I Georgian house and the detailed period style would have daunted the most experienced of site managers. But Chris Adams rose to the challenge with all the resolve, initiative and tenacity bred by 40 years’ worth of construction experience since his first job as an apprentice joiner.
A potentially much more difficult non-technical problem was that the development had aroused a great deal of local resistance in a small village. Rather than retreat to the safety of the walled garden, Chris took the bulls by the horns and made direct contact with the most vocal objectors to find out exactly what their fears were.
And fears rather than actuality were the problem. The neighbours’ biggest anxieties were about early-morning noise from large machinery, ignorance of what was going on within the walled development, and a lack of control over events that could directly affect them.
Chris took simple but powerful steps to allay the concerns. He promised that no machinery would be used before a mutually agreed time, he created a safe viewing platform for the villagers to observe construction activities, and he made it very clear that he could be contacted on his mobile about any worries about the development.
It was an object lesson in how to defuse hostility and it allowed Chris to get on with the construction itself. He took in his stride the complications of foundation redesign caused by archaeological finds, protected trees within the working area that could not be pruned or trimmed in any way, and a forced redesign of the foul drain outfall when the water company discovered its records were incorrect.
Having carefully selected subcontractors to meet the tight programme, Chris designed out many problems before site start. And he carried out regular quality control inspections to ensure standards were high. By carefully planning and meticulously controlling the movement and storage of materials, he also overcame the difficult site logistics.
Through self-motivated professionalism, exceptional negotiating skills and ability to work under pressure, Chris delivered a commercially successful project substantially within budget and to the highest quality.