Wrexham County Borough Council - Building Control
North Wales Building Excellence Awards 2010
Category Winners
Best Domestic Conversion/Extension
John Walsh
Bryn Myfyr,
Allt y Pentref,
Gwynfryn,
Wrexham
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This is a traditionally constructed cottage style stone dwelling with first floor sloping ceilings under a slate
covered pitched roof. The property is located on a small sloping site at ninety degrees to the public highway. The
project undertaken by the owner and builder included underpinning the original dwelling, general structural
improvements and erection of an extension to provide two storey accommodation comprising kitchen, two bedrooms
and a bathroom.
Problems encountered and satisfactorily overcome included the difficulty of propping and underpinning of 450mm wide solid stone walling, ground water management and diversion and construction on a steeply sloping site with retaining and waterproofing complications. The location of property demanded a high level of weathering due to being over 80m above sea level. Problems were exaggerated by the fact that very little land surrounds the development. Many features were reclaimed from reclamation yards including internal feature timber beams and external window cills and heads adding to its sustainability merits. Energy efficiency measures were also incorporated throughout the dwelling as extended to a level over and above the Building Regulations. From commencement to completion the builder was conscientious and his attention to detail is to be commended. Every aspect of the job was undertaken and completed to the highest standard and where possible over and above standards laid down by the Building Regulations. The site was immaculate at all times with work always ready for inspection by Building Control. This completed development is well deserved of a Building Excellence Award and is considered to be an outstanding example of a domestic renovation and extension.
Best Housing
Rofft Developments 2000 Ltd
Land at Wrexham Road,
Holt,
Wrexham
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This prestigious development is located within a picturesque and historic village, just outside the conservation area. The village contains a Grade 1 Listed Parish Church together with a Grade 2* Listed Medieval Castle. The scheme therefore had to reflect the character of the area and the traditional building styles within the village. Discussions with the developer commenced early into the planning process where a development team approach was adopted with Planning, Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust, Highways and Building Control. The result of this care and attention was that the design of the development provided a seamless path to approval being granted for the development.
The development comprises a frontage of two and three storey three/four bedroom terraced properties. Behind this, the development opens out into a more conventional cul-de-sac with four/five bedroom semi detached and detached properties fronting onto a central area of public open space. The scale, design and appearance of the house types utilised on the development were selected to reflect the more traditional dwellings located within the conservation area. Throughout the entire development the project manager instilled excellent health and safety with welfare facilities, offices and storage within a designated compound. All site operatives, sub contractors and visiting building control officers were required to undertake a site induction and all were required to have a valid CSCS cards. The project manager and building control agreed to coordinate a same day quality inspection regime for all statutory inspections ensuring that all works were ready for inspection recorded on site record inspection books with electronic records of all satisfactory inspections provided with all final certificates as part of the home
buyers pack. The relationship between building control, the developer and the Archaeologists was excellent throughout and a very professional partnership developed enabling the project to run smoothly with all parties attending to any problems encountered efficiently.The developer has utilised the local authority building control service on previous residential developments within the county and has a good reputation for the quality of construction, attention to detail and customer satisfaction. The final result being a high standard of workmanship which resulted with acoustic sound test results ten percent better than the requirements of the building regulations an average air permeability result of six and excellent team working with building control.
Best Volume Housing
Anwyl Construction Co Ltd
Ty Newydd,
Mold Road,
Wrexham
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The development comprised of residential dwellings of mixed house types from town houses, detached and semi detached. The proposed house type styles were sympathetic to the surrounding buildings of the site and the developer was keen throughout to ensure consistency of construction quality and workmanship.
Extremely conscientious site management throughout the development has achieved impressive health and safety management for staff and visitors, tidiness of site and storage of materials. Also the Site Manager's organisational skills and relationship with
sub-contractors were such that more than adequate notice for inspections was given. On arriving at site, equipment was always available for checking various stages of work. The developer has used the Local Authority service on a number of occasions and has been more than impressed with the service provided. They have been keen to maintain an excellent close working relationship with Building Control so that any project delays were kept to a minimum. We are proud to have been associated with this development and we wish the company every success and look forward to working together in the future.
Best Social/Affordable Housing
W D Stant
Land West of 3 Colliery Road,
Chirk,
Wrexham
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Best Healthcare Project
Betsi Cadwalader University
Health Board
Accident and Emergency Unit,
Wrexham Maelor Hospital,
Wrexham
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A 9 phased construction project consisting of extensions, alterations and refurbishment works may strike fear into most building professionals but when the project is to be carried out within and around a fully operational major regional Accident and emergency Department dealing with 250 patients on a daily basis then major panic may well be the order of the day. Fortunately the Health Board recognised the logistical challenges to be overcome and in partnership with building control and the design team developed a comprehensive logistical operational plan including implementation of an evacuation plan so that the project could proceed in phases whilst minimal disturbance was experienced by emergency medical personnel.
From the outset building control were fully involved in the whole pre commencement stages of the project from design team meetings approving architectural designs and hospital strategies on a daily basis including meeting with building specialists such as Mechanical and Electrical Engineers in order to design in HTM requirements on fire strategies, compartmentation and evacuation, heating and ventilation requirements to improve the overall energy efficiency and comfort for the building users and the provision of all services to the building. This brought about its own complexities as the original building had been designed some 24 years ago to the then Firecode - Nucleus design concept with access to the department from outside and essential internal links maintained to the X-ray department and hospital street giving access to patient wards.
The 2 year phased construction process consisted of an extension to the accident and emergency entrance including an ambulance station with a new ancillary plant area above. The impressive entrance became a user friendly, attractive and comfortable space as well as providing a secure environment for staff and patients alike. Major and minor accident and emergency areas were fully upgraded and improvements to the paediatric consulting areas, resuscitation department and the relocation of triage nursing stations all proceeded without access or obstructive problems being encountered. Consulting rooms
together with support staff offices and staff changing facilities were also completed successfully. More importantly monthly project team meetings after site works had commenced ironed out any potential problems on the horizon but also the close working relationship between building control, site agent and the health board's estate management team including their own fire officer resolved problems daily encountered efficiently and effectively so progress was not hindered. This development team approach led to the successful completion of the project on time and budget and operationally improved the accident and emergency service provided by the Health Board.
Best Community Project
W L Construction
Penley Rainbow Centre,
Penley,
Wrexham
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This building, located in a semi-rural village, is a new community facility designed to serve the requirements of the local people. The building is of single storey construction incorporating substantial glazed areas to give it a contemporary look. The foundations were engineer designed deep trench fill, due to the presence of trees on the site. Due to the layout involving several inner room
situations a fire engineered approach had to be adopted by the architect to ensure compliance.
The contractor involved building control before commencing on site, to ensure any possible problems could be resolved. A small number of issues regarding foundation design were raised and resolved in these pre commencement meetings. When work started on site, excellent communication between the contractor and building control was maintained to ensure a tight timescale for the construction phase could be adhered to, with works always ready when site inspections were requested. The inspections for excavations for foundations required flexibility between both building control and the contractor, and this further emphasised a positive working relationship. During the construction phase several amendments to the internal layout of the community centre were proposed. After meetings between the architect, building control and the contractor these amendments were implemented with no delays to the construction program and enabled the internal lay out to be improved. The contractor has produced a high quality finish to the building which the village is extremely proud of. Building control is looking forward to working with the contractor
again on future projects.
Best Commercial Project
Read Construction Ltd
North Wales Regional Tennis Centre
Wrexham
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The project consisted of an extension to a North Wales Regional Tennis Centre that included new tennis courts to
professional standards and viewing facilities. The construction consisted of a steel portal frame with composite coated panels and glazed screening to the gable end. From the outset the developer was keen to develop a good working relationship with Building Control to ensure that any delays were kept to a minimum. Extremely conscientious site management enabled the project to
achieve high standard of workmanship throughout.
The developer was extremely keen on an effective health and safety approach that was consistent throughout the project which has helped achieve recognition in terms of storage of materials, tidiness of site and the high standard of quality workmanship. The Site Manager always gave more than the required notice for inspection visits and work was ready for inspection when arriving on site. The developer and the client have used the Local Authority service previously and more than impressed with service provided. We are proud to have been associated with the developer and look forward to working together on any future developments.
Best Commercial Project - Large
Watkin Jones Ltd
Yale Business Park,
Ellice Way,
Wrexham
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The development consisted of various commercial office units of single and two storey developments, set up as a business park the sympathetic construction choice of brick work and tile roofs with attractive curtain walling entrances blended in well within the development.
The site manager requested statutory site inspections with ample notice to building control, and work on site was always ready for inspection and to a satisfactory standard. The site record book records were well maintained and kept up to date demonstrating the team work between the site manager and building control surveyor throughout the projects.
Health and safety on site was well maintained and the site was always clean and tidy and secure, this project shown that the contractor worked with consideration to neighbouring buildings that had been occupied by businesses and created a good image for the contractor. Overall the development has been completed to an excellent standard and a well managed project, we look forward to working with the contractor on future developments