WEST MIDLANDS CONTRACTOR FRAMEWORK PASSES £100M MILESTONE
The WMCF has now allocated 22 projects located across the West Midlands, representing £101 million of investment in new schools (Offmore Primary School pictured), leisure complexes, police facilities, offices and libraries. So far £20 million of project work has been completed; £20 million more is on site; and a further £60 million of work is at the design stage. To date, the WMCF has achieved cost savings of 5 per cent and a reduction in project overruns by 65 per cent, highlighting the benefits available to local authorities through a Framework.
The £180 million, four-year framework is administered by Worcestershire County Council which procures work for its partners Herefordshire Council, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, West Mercia Police Authority, and more recently, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, with Speller Metcalfe appointed as one of the three Framework contractors.
Andrew Peasgood, Framework Manager for the WMCF at Worcestershire County Council, said: “The WMCF has continued to provide a practical and effective way for public sector bodies across the West Midlands to procure work and reduce construction spend in their areas. By removing the need for costly competitive tendering and by bringing in the contractor early on each project we’ve been able to improve productivity and greatly enhance engagement between designer, contractor and client to unlock significant cost savings. This means we can continue to build high quality facilities while ensuring value for money.”
Keith Gordon, Assistant Director at Improvement & Efficiency West Midlands (IEWM) which supported the development of the WMCF, said: “We’re delighted with the WMCF and the progress that’s being made locally. What matters to local people is that their authorities are delivering facilities that are high quality and cost effective, and that’s exactly what the WMCF has been doing. With 22 projects underway so far, consistently excellent Considerate Contractors Scores and many happy local people, everything we’ve seen so far has been a success.”
For more information on the West Midlands Contractor Framework please visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/wmcf – you can also access the WMCF blog at http://westmidscontractorframework.wordpress.com.