Housing and regeneration specialist, Keepmoat, has launched an innovative Consultants Framework in a bid to strengthen its relationship with designers, drive innovation and add further consistency to projects when delivered.
The new three year framework, which will cover architectural and engineering services, will be used for projects ranging from general needs houses and bungalows to extra care apartments.
An extensive selection process was carried out by the team, in which they examined quality, cost and organisational fit of each consultant which applied to be part of the framework. The selection panel had representation from the Commercial, Technical and Business Development departments as well as senior guidance from Lee Francis, North East Area Director at Keepmoat, who after a number of years working at Keepmoat, has recognised a need for a regional Framework to ensure the business operates as efficiently as possible.
Lee Francis, commented: “This pioneering new framework, which was put in place from the 1st April 2015, aims to strengthen our association with a number of the most talented architects and engineers in the North East. The 11 designers were chosen based on the quality of their delivery to ensure the Keepmoat standard continues to be as high as possible.”
Keith Handy, Associate Director at Space Architects commented: “We’re very happy to be part of Keepmoat’s framework and to be working alongside other architects and engineers in order to collaborate and streamline the design and construction of upcoming developments for the benefit of the North East.”
Lee Barr, Managing Director at Portland Consulting Engineers commented: “We are delighted to have been selected onto the framework and looking forward to enhancing our existing relationship with Keepmoat. Whilst continuing to challenge engineering issues to provide cost effective designs, we believe this innovative approach will benefit the full team to deliver high quality schemes throughout the region.”
Graham McDarby, Design Director at Gradon Architecture, said: “Keepmoat’s Consultants Framework is an innovative, forward-thinking approach to housing development and we’re delighted to be involved in the initiative. We look forward to contributing our sustainable architecture solutions to the next three years of collaborative working.”
The framework officially launched at an event on Wednesday 22nd April at the Baltic in Gateshead. The event acted as a forum to discuss how to continually improve the performance of the partnership, as well as a platform to discuss matters arising in the sector such as best practice, new initiatives and legislation.
The following consultants have been appointed onto the framework:
Architects
Archial Norr
Acanthus WSM
Blake Hopkinson
Gradon Architecture
P+HS
Space
Engineers
Fairhurst
Billinghurst George Partnership (BGP)
Portland
CK21
Vint
