Purpose

Due to programme prolongation, the external
works including the compound area adjacent to the Trenchard Street
rear exits achieved Practical Completion in December 2025 extending
the defect liability periods to March 2026 with an agreed formal
project closure of April 2026.
This approval is for the Provision of NEC Project Management, NEC
Supervision, and PMO Services via the Council’s Strategic
Partner including Project Assurance for cost, engineering and
design.
Current Variation Order VO13 scope was based on the following
programme, targeting December 2025:
•Section 1 Main Building: the current approved VO is based
upon an advised completion of Regulatory works within the main
building by end of October 2025, with the certification of
remaining works by end of December 2025. This assumes the Final
Documentation, Legals, Agreements and Financial close by the end of
December 2025 in addition to the completion of Section 2, the
issuing of the final certification at end of defects at the end of
December 2025.
•Willmott Dixon final account and Consultants accounts not
closed until December 2025.
The scope and variation for the programme and rationale are:
•Willmott Dixon’s revised timetable that reflects the
outstanding works and the documentation remaining at the time of
this variation order is now as below:
Section 1 Main Building:
•Regulatory compliance by end of October 2025.
•Outstanding works certification by end of January 2026.
•Three months later than planned, prolonged completion of
regulatory works and protracted issues with completing
documentation and certification, and greater number of disputes by
Willmott Dixon on outstanding defects.
Section 2 - External works:
•The planned completion of these works was end of August 2025
with a three-month defects period completing November 2025. This
would have constituted the final certification of the project
allowing for total project close out in November 2025.
•Due to protracted design approval process increased
complexity due to existing services, equipment, and re-mobilisation
the latest completion date advised by Wilmott Dixon for these works
is now mid-December 2025, giving a final certification date of
mid-March 2026.
Variation Order O14 reflects this three-month delay to the external
works as well as the projected certification dates. It also covers
the additional works that have delayed the closing of the contract.
These include:-
oSecond round of BREEAM correspondence that requires further
action
oDelayed archiving period due to late documentation
oIncrease admin dealing with Willmott Dixon disputed items
oExtended Highways Audit
oExtensive work required by consultants to provide letters of
comfort which has de-risked the ownership of the
building/project
oThe physical works on site have taken longer than initially
anticipated, with many disputes had with Willmott Dixon to complete
works.
oAdditional and extended period of contract administration due to
the compounded impact of the above

Content

Approval for the provision of NEC Project
Management, NEC Supervision, and PMO Services via the
Council’s Strategic Partner including Project Assurance for
cost, engineering and design.

Alternative options considered

N/A