Finalist |
||
 |
 |
Category: Projects £15-25m Name: Peter Radley-Martin MCIOB Company: Kier South East Project: Nugent Retail Park, Orpington Contract: JCT 1998 D&B |
Peter Radley-Martin's leadership of this project is an inspiring example of what a proactive, enthusiastic construction manager can achieve.
Because this was Kier's third project under a framework agreement, it was particularly important in terms of turnover and further potential work. So while tenant-engendered changes in a retail park build are perfectly natural – new tenants come on board at all stages, and have individual requirements – here they were not commercial opportunities for the contractor but issues to be resolved as quickly as possible.
As well as the usual run-of-the-mill changes, Peter had to incorporate four significant alterations from vital new tenants and still meet the original opening date for the retail park. Able to view change positively, Peter received each new instruction with a smile. He used prominently sited display boards to communicate the new deadlines and countdown programmes to the workforce. His enthusiasm and dedication inspired the whole team with a desire to succeed.
And he delivered without compromising quality, belying the patchy reputation of design and build projects in this area. Peter rigorously enforced the quality plan and devised a quality checking regime that proved so effective – just 12 snags were listed at handover – that Kier has since adopted it for all its projects.
Peter exerted complete control over this project, from taking the bid lead to closing out risk and cost inflation. With the biggest risk in the contaminated ground of this former business park, he conducted rigorous soil tests and instigated a bioremediation strategy that brought considerable project savings by allowing the material to be removed as non-hazardous.
He then beefed up contaminant protection by incorporating an active gas protection system rather than the specified passive membrane. It made for faster installation and offered protection from rising gas levels.
Peter was always on the look-out to value-engineer. He raised the proposed finished levels by 300mm to reduce excavation and tipping costs, and allowed crushed demolition material to be used onsite.
The resounding success of his project has led to a slew of recommendations and appointments for subsequent contracts from the architect, the client and the consultants.
