What was the Client Requirement
Apogee were instructed by Morris Property to provide a full utility turnkey full development life cycle consultancy service for a prestigious new industrial estate in Ketley, Telford. The site required a Full Utility Search in compliance with PAS128 & HSG47 as well as a Site Investigation and Management of the development’s connections and any relevant diversions, disconnections. The site is the former location of a print works and had several unique challenges related to its existing utilities and the legal situation in regard to the site.

What was the Apogee Solution?
Apogee provided their full range of utility consultancy services to provide and manage the utility conflicts and their solutions for this project. Along with the usual Utility Search a full CDM Risk Assessment and site investigation, management of new connections and diversions, and point of capacity check – in short, Apogee managed all utility remediation for the development throughout the planning and design stages and well into construction. We negotiated with and developed the utility proposals with the relevant utility operators, handling disconnections and new connections for water, power, gas and telecoms infrastructure. Additionally, all protection and diversion works were minimised as far as possible and the best points of connection identified. We are also responsible for managing legal consents in a complex legal rights situation.

What was the result of the report?
The site was a complex one with several utilities to be managed together with an adjacent commercial and retail site the client also sought to develop, which added further The road to the South of this development was a private road which serviced several local businesses, making negotiations for its closure far more complex and impractical. The shared northern access also complicated its use due to more limited space and the presence of existing, obsolete water plant and multipl;e road closures. The Apogee team were able to recognise the importance of ensuring the right legal strategy is adopted in order to give the site owner the ability to make changes and allow multi telecoms and other infrastructure options access to the site in future.

This along with our decades of expertise in connecting sites meant we were able to find points of connection for all the utilities using a mixture of access routes including the North, South, and via a services strip across the adjacent commercial unit.

Naturally due to the site’s complex nature, some of the Apogee team got out on site to inspect the features and assess the nearby site boundaries – every inch of space mattered here!

Why was the client delighted?
The Client was delighted to learn that there was nothing preventing the development – capacity to supply the site existed for the main utilities and telecoms networks and nearby points of connection were available. There was the need for a sewer diversion for the site, which was designed by an appointed civil engineer and electrical and gas plant comflicts with soakaways also negotiated.

About the client:
Morris Property is a forward-thinking property company spanning development, construction and portfolio management. A highly collaborative partner in realising any development vision, Morris are based in Shrewsbury and have a reputation built over 100 years in commercial and residential property, development and investment. Proud to be a part of a fifth generation family business group, Morris have a wide portfolio of over 200 developments across Shropshire and adjacent counties, and are one of the area’s most established and entrusted institutions.

What did the client say (Testimonial)
James West, COO of Morris, says: “We have been impressed by Apogee’s understanding of utility processes, and it is clear to understand how their methodologies are going to bring value to our development life cycle. They are off to a great start and we look forward to developing the relationship into the future.”

Who else would buy this?
Our full turnkey consultancy services are ideal for Clients and Project Managers, Developers, Local Authorities Consultants, Architects, Design & Build Contractors, Highways Scheme promoters and Surveyors. Anyone involved with a residential or commercial development who would benefit from understanding the risks and costs which come from utilities would be well placed to talk to us.

Even if you are not the source of funds for the development and costs savings are of secondary importance to you, we can help you avoid other inconveniences such as delays, and reduce the risk of any accidents or strikes of existing plant, as well as improve due diligence and help you achieve compliance under the relevant guidelines and regulations, namely PAS128 and HSG47. We have decades of experience in managing such conflicts across our capable team, a member of whom was on the PAS128 steering committee and who was personally involved in the drafting of PAS128 Quality Level D.