Decision ref
0002 2024/25
Decision date
28/05/2024
Portfolio
Regeneration & Planning
Wards
Town Centre
Title
St Helens Town Centre Regeneration Scheme - Approval to fund sub-station civil engineering works
Summary
As part of the next stage of enabling works to deliver the major transformation proposals in St Helens Town Centre, it will be necessary to provide a new electrical sub-station to the rear of the former Marks and Spencer unit with associated civil engineering connection works along Bickerstaffe Street. Initial funding to progress this work was agreed at Cabinet on 13 September 2023. This Decision is to agree further funding of up to £450,000 for these civil engineering works.
Purpose
To ensure the delivery of the next stage of works to bring forward the St Helens Town Centre Regeneration scheme remains on programme, it will be necessary to commission the Bethell Group by the end of April 2024 to undertake the installation of an electrical sub-station with associated civil engineering works to install a high voltage and low voltage cable diversions along Bickerstaffe Street.
To maintain overall programme delivery these works will need to be agreed via this Dedicated Executive Decision in advance of a report which is being prepared for May Cabinet which will seek authority to undertake further enabling works, which will include the demolition of the Hardshaw Shopping Centre.
Background
At its meeting of 13 September 2023, Cabinet made a financial commitment of £69.2 million to deliver the transformational Phase 1 regeneration programme in St Helens Town Centre, which will bring forward a new indoor market, residential units, hotel and associated high quality public realm.
Cabinet also agreed to a number of delegations including authority to the Executive Director of Place (in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning and the Section 151 Officer) to authorise up to £1.5m expenditure from within the overall budget to enable progression to final design including the commissioning of Phase 1 to RIBA stage 4 (Technical Design) stage, any necessary costs to secure energy for the site and to underwrite the costs of the pre-construction service agreement (PCSA). These PCSA works are currently being progressed.
Cabinet approval also included a contribution of £650,000 to the Bethell Group to progress the installation of a new electrical sub-station which is required to be in place and made operational before the existing sub-stations in the Hardshaw Shopping Centre can be removed and the building demolished.
It has been identified that further civil engineering work will need to be commissioned from the Bethell Group to provide for the installation of a high voltage and low voltage cable diversions along Bickerstaffe Street. This work has been costed at up to £450,000 and falls within the budgeted cost plan for the programme.
In order to maintain the delivery programme, these works are required to be commissioned by the end of April 2024, in advance of the May Cabinet reporting cycle where a further report is planned to seek agreement to further required enabling works which would include site establishment work, hoarding installation around the edge of the working site, soft strip of fixtures and fittings within the Hardshaw Centre and the Demolition of the Hardshaw Centre.
Conclusion
The request to agree a contribution of up to £450,000 from the agreed capital programme for the St Helens Town Centre Regeneration scheme will positively enable the next stage of required civil engineering works to deliver the new electrical sub-station.
Risk Implications
The St Helens Town Centre Regeneration programme environment maintains a full risk register that identifies a range of risks facing the programme. This is reviewed at regular intervals ensuring appropriate mitigating actions are undertaken and the risks are mitigated as per expectations. The main risk relates to the commitment to deliver and expend money on the required civil engineering works of up to £450,000 to facilitate the provision of the new sub-station in advance of knowing the final contract value for the main development works (and at risk of such pricing being higher than the allowance within the programme budget).
Measures to Redress Risk
Mitigation in the event that the main contract price is higher than expected, would include consideration of a value engineering exercise to review scheme specifications and design details. This mitigation process could generate a reputational risk if alternative specifications were adopted.
Declarations Of Interest
None
Equality Impact Assessment
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More information
Please contact Robert Gatensbury on 01744 676149
