Decision

Pursuant to the Council resolution of 23 July 2024, the Council has entered into a Development Agreement with Wates Construction Ltd. Wates Construction Ltd is appointed as the Council’s Development Partner to support it in delivering a housing scheme at the Guildford Park site.
Following planning consent and the progression of the detailed design, the parties have agreed a number of project-specific amendments to the Employer's Requirements together with revisions to the Social Value Delivery Plan.
The proposed amendments are to be formalised through a Deed of Variation 2 to the Development Agreement. The agreed amendments principally relate to:
-refinement of architectural, landscape, fire and MEP requirements to reflect the approved design and detailed technical development of the scheme;
-replacement of certain generic Employer's Requirements with alternative solutions that achieve equivalent or improved outcomes;
-removal of requirements that are not applicable to the final scheme design or operational arrangements; and
-revisions to social value commitments to reflect the adoption of a panelised construction methodology whilst maintaining overall social value outcomes.
The proposed changes have been reviewed by the Council's project team and technical advisers and are considered acceptable.

Reasons for the decision

The changes are required:
-To reflect the progression of the design following planning approval and detailed technical development of the scheme.
-To align the Employer's Requirements with the approved building design, construction methodology and building services strategy.
-To remove requirements that are not applicable to the Guildford Park Road scheme and replace them with alternative measures better suited to the final design.
-To ensure continued compliance with relevant Building Regulations, planning requirements and technical standards whilst simplifying infrastructure and reducing future maintenance obligations where appropriate.
-To update the Social Value Delivery Plan to reflect the move to a panelised construction solution whilst maintaining equivalent social value outcomes.
Entering into a Deed of Variation is therefore necessary to formally record the agreed amendments to the Development Agreement.

Alternative options considered

The alternative option would be to decline the proposed amendments and require full compliance with the original Employer's Requirements.
This option was not considered appropriate because:
-Many of the proposed amendments arise directly from the evolution of the design following planning approval and detailed technical development.
-Several of the original requirements were generic in nature and do not fully reflect the final approved scheme, construction methodology or building services strategy.
-The proposed amendments have been reviewed by the Council's technical advisers and are not considered to materially affect the quality, operational performance, maintenance strategy or long-term asset value of the development.
-In some instances, the proposed amendments simplify infrastructure, reduce maintenance and lifecycle costs and may reduce future service charge liabilities for residents.
-The Council appointed Wates to develop and optimise the design following appointment as Development Partner and the Development Agreement anticipates that agreed amendments to the Employer's Requirements may be required as the design develops.
For these reasons, agreeing the amendments through a Deed of Variation 2 is considered to be in the best interests of the Council and the successful delivery of the scheme.