Critical stakeholder engagement on residential refurbishment

Podium Surveying was appointed to survey and provide a condition report on cracking to a brick panel noted to the Saxonbury block, Albion Hill Estate in Brighton. It was clear from our survey’s findings that proactively engaging with the residents of the block was going to be critical to getting their support for future works.

The Saxonbury block has a reinforced concrete frame, with cavity masonry infill panels at each floor level on a projecting concrete support shelf to the floor slab. The brick panel defect was identified during replacement balcony railings and concrete repair works but was otherwise unconnected to this contract. Through our survey, it was soon evident the fault was part of a broader problem, identifying that the external skin of the brickwork to the block was failing due to:

• Historic poor building practices meaning the panels were not constructed with sufficient restraint
• Poor site practices led to mortar failure; the cavity wall ties provided little restraint to the facing brickwork panels

We knew that the work to resolve this defect would involve disruption for the block’s residents. Our engagement, therefore, with both the tenants and leaseholders was going to be critical to ensure the successful delivery of these vital works. Without positive engagement, significant risks such as delayed approvals, cost overruns, and missed milestone programme dates would have derailed the project. We negated these adverse factors through detailed planning, developing a bespoke stakeholder engagement strategy and building positive, trusted relationships with the residents.

Firstly, knowing the Saxonbury block had two main types of occupants, namely tenants and leaseholders, we were aware their considerations and concerns would differ. We devised two separate consultation processes to address these. Our Surveyors presented our proposals to both groups at evening meetings, as this was the time most convenient to the majority of residents to help ensure maximum attendance and feedback. At the meetings, we presented our survey findings concisely, in a non-jargon way, to convey the problems, why the work needed to be carried out and the resolution. Additionally, as the leaseholders would be expected to contribute financially to the works, this consultation event had a Local Authority Leasehold Specialist in attendance to answer questions on cost and payment terms.

Secondly, during the works, we planned and attended regular drop-in sessions and circulated newsletters for all affected residents. These newsletters kept occupants appraised of the construction works, timescales and critical targets.

Implementing our stakeholder engagement strategy throughout the project lifecycle helped deliver the project’s success, ensuring residents were satisfied with the works, making the building-user safe, and ensuring the works were carried out to the highest standards and meeting financial targets.