Barndance!

Shortlist

We've completed our review of the Contractor's bids and last week we met with the two Contractors who now comprise the shortlist. Despite the freezing conditions outside both our meetings went very well, helped along by the warming effect of a log fire at Severn Ridge!

The main focus of the meetings was to discuss 'Value Engineering' options and the impact on the Contractors tender prices. We have encouraged the two shortlisted Contractors to make proposals for reducing costs in areas that they believe will help making the build more affordable without compromising the original design. For example, the design includes a glass porch/canopy over the main entrance. Both Contractors have identified cost savings that could be made by making the canopy smaller and using alternative materials.

As we mentioned in an earlier post, this is still a competitive process so we trust you understand why some of the details are a little vague!

In print

Along with this blog keeping you uptodate on the progress with the new building, we've also been talking to the Bristol Eveining Post. Their first article about the project was in yesterday's paper and can be found online via this link http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/163-1-4m-centre-replace-church-venue/article-2929410-detail/article.html

The results are in

Friday 19th November was the deadline for the five Contractors to submit their bids for the construction of the new building, and all five made it in on time.

We can't reveal any details yet as it is still a competitive process with the Quantity Surveyor (QS) now conducting a detailed assessment of the bids. However, without giving too much away, the numbers look promising and it looks as if the original estimates produced by the QS were in the right ballpark.

Later this week, once the QS has had more time to complete their review, we'll be meeting with them to see which Contractors have made the best offer. The price is obviously a major factor here but so is the technical competence of the team they are putting forward, both with the practicalities of construction on site and those who will complete the design.

Gone!

The photo speaks for itself.

Going, going...

Due to the demolition contractor finding more asbestos in the old building we were told that it was going to take slightly longer than expected to bring the building down. However, they've obviously dealt with all the asbestos already as the Quantity Surveyor discovered when he visited site today.

Thanks to Mac, who made a a flying visit to site late this afternoon

to snap the picture below. As you can see there's very little of the old building left standing.

And so it begins

After months of the only evidence of the new building being on paper, work has finally started on site. Lawson, our demolition contractor, has setup site and will be spending the next few weeks demolishing the old Blackhorse Centre. Originally built by Blackhorse Christian Fellowship in the 1960s the Blackhorse Centre was inherited by Bristol Christian Fellowship (BCF) in the mid 1990s when the two churches merged. Most recently the building been home to Crossways Preschool and has been used occasionally by BCF.

The demolition has started with a 'soft strip', which includes the safe removal and disposal of asbestos, they will eventually take the building down to ground level to leave a site that is cleared and ready for the main Contractor to start work on in the New Year.

Meanwhile the 'design and build' tender package is with several Contractors who are finalising their bids. These are due to be submitted at the end of this week and they will then be reviewed by the Quantity Surveyor/Project Manager and the Trustees. If all goes to plan we hope to be able to appoint the successful Contractor before the end of the year.

Planning!

Great news, South Glos Council have approved our planning application for the new Resound Building; http://planning.southglos.gov.uk/WAM/showCaseFile.do;jsessionid=532C07FDEFF865F34046077F393BE595?action=show&appType=Planning&appNumber=PK09/6025/F

After the weeks and months spent getting the building designed the last few weeks seem to have raced by and we've obtained the necessary consent with what seems like very little effort. So a big 'thank you' to everybody who has been involved in the process thus far.