NEC4 for Welsh homes

Cartrefi Conwy Housing Association, the largest social landlord in Conwy in Wales, has adopted NEC4 contracts for all future new building and maintenance work.

It awarded its first three NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contracts (ECC) worth £5.5 million in January 2018 to local contractor Brenig Construction and the association’s subsidiary Creating Enterprise.

First three contracts

Brenig has already started on the first £1.1 million ECC Option A (priced contract with activity schedule), which is for regenerating the large Tre Cwm estate in Llandudno with a range of landscaping and civil engineering projects.

The contractor has also just begun converting an existing doctors’ surgery to create 14 new affordable rented apartments at Elmwood in Colwyn Bay under a £2.1 million ECC Option A, while Creating Enterprise is about to start on 17 new social housing units at Berth Y Glyd in Conwy under a £2.4 million ECC Option A. All are due for completion by autumn 2018.

Cartrefi Conwy is supported by funding from the Welsh government and was advised by Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP and Savills.

Scope and flexibility

Adrian Johnson, managing director of commercial services, says, ‘We are planning to build 250 new quality, affordable homes by 2020 and all future developments will now be procured using NEC4. We feel the scope and flexibility within the NEC suite fits our purposes and objectives in order to produce quality workmanship at best value for our customers.

‘In addition, planned maintenance of our existing 3800 homes – such as kitchen, bathroom and roof replacements – will also now be undertaken under the NEC4 Term Service Contract and NEC4 Term Service Short Contracts via our subsidiary Creating Enterprise. Total value will be £4 million in 2018/19.’