Avoiding Flood Season Delays on a Constrained Heritage Site
Client: Developer
Package: Structural Shell
Building Systems: Timber Frame
Type of Building: Development
Energy Saving: Fabric First
The Background
This project carried two clear commercial exposures from the outset:
Cost and performance certainty: planning required very high energy standards with little tolerance for post-approval change.
Programme exposure to flood season: any delay to achieving weather-tight would have pushed the build into a known flood window, increasing cost, delay and insurance risk.
Our Delivery Challenges
Although the project was small in unit numbers, it was complex to deliver:
Very tight site access at the end of an existing development
Minimal laydown and lifting space
Strict dimensional tolerances and heritage-style form
Higher than standard U-value requirements.
Developer team unfamiliar with timber frame, interface risk
How we Removed Risk
Several early decisions materially reduced downstream exposure:
Digital design used to coordinate panel sizes, lifting strategy and delivery sequencing
Sequenced manufacture and just-in-time deliveries to eliminate on-site storage
Early co-ordination with the foundation contractor to control tolerances
Pre-agreed installation methodology, including crew size, crane days and panel sequencing
Outcome Certainty Gained
Structure installed in 10 working days with a two-person team
Three planned crane days, delivered without disruption
Homes weather-tight ahead of flood season
Performance targets achieved without redesign delays
Reduced neighbour impact due to short site duration
Heritage form and proportions matched exactly
Ongoing support reduced risk for follow-on trades
Critically, the client avoided the compounded cost and programme risk associated with seasonal delay.
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