MTC1008 - Contractor Host - AWARD

The Parliamentary Estate

The Parliamentary estate currently comprises 15 buildings, the majority of which are grade 1 and grade 2 listed, with a floor space in excess of 200,000msq. Accommodation includes offices, committee rooms, catering facilities, plant rooms, workshops, a gymnasium, underground parking and residences. The Estate includes iconic buildings such as the Palace of Westminster.

The Parliamentary Estates Directorate (PED) employs program managers, project managers, conservation architects, space planners, building services engineers, fire safety managers, fire officers, building surveyors, estates managers, archivists, collections managers, facilities managers and BIM technicians. There are currently a number of live projects ranging from multiple small projects to some larger scale ones. .

Many complex projects are delivered in occupied areas requiring careful management in relation to the overriding priority to minimize impact on the operations of each House and the need to maintain security and health and safety.

Two very large programs are currently at an early stage. These are the Restoration and Renewal (R&R) project, which will see the complete refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster and the Northern Estate Programme which will refurbish most of the northern part of the Estate.

PED is responsible for managing a number of events throughout the year that involve construction related activities, including State Opening of Parliament, arrangements for the Lying in State of the Monarch and smaller events in Westminster Hall. These, along with works associated with filming, will now come under the CDM regulations following the changes coming into effect in April 2015.

Construction Safety Management

PED has responsibility for compliance with CDM regulations across the estate. Parliament’s H&S Policy Supplement 4, Control of Contractors, sets out measures for controlling the work of contractors to maintain a safe working environment. The Policy Supplement defines the role of the Contractor Host.

The Contractor Host role requires relatively close supervision of the Principle Contractor’s arrangements for managing construction operations from an H&S point of view, as well as a close understanding of the Parliamentary Estate and its stakeholders. To be most effective, the role will need to be delivered through a continuous presence on site so that the provider is in close proximity to the construction area and its stakeholders. Anyone acting in this role will need to have the authority of the client to make tough decisions, such as potentially stopping work on occasions, which may have significant repercussions on the progress of projects.

Additionally, CDM legislation will change significantly in April this year. Principally this will involve the CDM Co-ordinator role falling away. Therefore, it will be desirable for Contractor Host arrangements to include additional services to address any gaps a...