Case Studies
APCC supports clients through challenging and commercially sensitive projects where clear administration, practical construction knowledge and strong employer-side or client-side control are essential.
The projects below demonstrate APCC’s experience in project recovery, contract administration, Employer’s Agent appointments, procurement, contractor management and delivery support across residential and commercial schemes.
George Street, South Hiendley
Employer’s Agent for a £1.2m residential development of 6 houses.
Project overview
This project involved a £1.2 million private residential development comprising a mix of detached and semi-detached new-build houses at George Street, South Hiendley. The scheme was procured through a single contractor JCT Design and Build 2011 contract. APCC became involved several years after the project had started, at a point where progress had stalled and disputes over money, payment, programme and completion were threatening the wider delivery of the development.
The challenge
By the time APCC was appointed, the project had become heavily affected by contractor performance issues, contractual disputes and ongoing programme slippage. Handover was not being achieved, and time had effectively slipped from one week to the next without meaningful resolution. The underlying contract had not been properly followed, breaches had occurred on both sides, and years of historical issues had created a large amount of noise that was preventing progress and obscuring the key matters that actually needed to be addressed.
APCC’s role
APCC was appointed in the Employer’s Agent role during the construction stage and took responsibility for helping restore order, structure and contractual clarity to a project that had reached a difficult impasse.
- Bringing the contract back into practical use and enforcing its mechanisms
- Restoring certainty around the liquidated damages position
- Carrying out commercial review and reporting
- Consolidating years of unresolved matters into a clear and actionable issue list
- Personally undertaking snagging input
- Supporting site progress, handover and defects-related matters
- Preparing for adjudication and dealing with the contractor’s claims on a contractual basis
Result and impact
APCC helped move the project from a stalled and highly disputed position to one with stronger employer-side control, improved administration and a much clearer contractual footing.
- Significant contractor claims worth hundreds of thousands of pounds were rebutted on a contractual basis
- The employer’s position in relation to liquidated damages, with arguments exceeding £600,000, was clarified and strengthened
- Issues that had built up over several years were streamlined into a more manageable and enforceable process
- Project quality, reporting and handover-related administration were materially improved
Although the project is not yet finally completed, APCC’s involvement brought much-needed structure, certainty and progress to a scheme that had previously reached a standstill.
210 Sheffield Road, Barnsley
Project Management and Contract Administration for conversion of a former commercial bike shop into 2 flats and a 4-bed HMO
Project overview
This project involved the conversion of a former commercial bike shop at 210 Sheffield Road, Barnsley into two 2-bedroom flats and one 4-bedroom HMO, with an approximate project value of £200,000. The works were delivered through a single contractor under a JCT Minor Works contract. APCC became involved after construction had already started, but the project had to be effectively reset due to poor prior design work, contractor failure and the need to restart the procurement and delivery process on a proper footing.
The challenge
Before APCC’s involvement, another contractor had commenced the scheme but failed to carry out meaningful work for over a year. The client had also overpaid that contractor and needed support to terminate the appointment and recover funds.
- Poor prior design and partially completed works that required correction
- The need to rebuild the project design package properly
- Complex utility supply arrangements
- Third-party issues relating to drainage locations
- Quality control concerns
- Programme overrun
- Design changes part way through the project as issues emerged with how the existing building had originally been constructed
APCC’s role
APCC provided both Project Management and Contract Administration services.
- Arranging for a full coordinated drawing package to be produced, including architectural, structural, fire, acoustic and M&E design input
- Tendering the project to contractors
- Putting forward and engaging a replacement main contractor
- Arranging the JCT Minor Works contract
- Carrying out contract administration throughout the works
- Dealing with payment applications and valuation of site works
- Administering extensions of time
- Liaising with the contractor on quality and delivery
- Enforcing programme expectations and applying liquidated damages where overrun occurred
- Carrying out the party wall process and notices
- Managing design issues and wider coordination through delivery
APCC also successfully dealt with the termination of the original contractor and secured the repayment of more than £18,000 in overpaid funds to the client.
Result and impact
APCC effectively helped rescue and restructure a project that had been undermined by contractor failure, poor prior design and delivery problems.
- Recovery of overpaid money from the previous contractor
- A proper design and procurement process put in place
- A suitable replacement contractor engaged under a formal JCT contract
- Stronger project management and contract administration controls introduced
- Quality, programme and delivery issues actively managed
- Party wall and third-party matters handled as part of the wider process
- Successful completion of the conversion scheme
The project was successfully completed, with APCC playing a key role in bringing structure, control and delivery discipline to a challenging commercial-to-residential conversion.
What these projects show
These case studies reflect APCC’s ability to support projects where clients need more than routine administration.
- Employer’s Agent appointments
- Project recovery and dispute-heavy environments
- Project management and contract administration
- Procurement and contractor selection
- Contractor management and delivery control
- Cost review and commercial administration
- JCT contract operation and enforcement
- Handover, defects and post-completion support
- Residential development and commercial conversion projects
Discuss your project
If you are planning a residential, commercial, school or agricultural project and need support with project management, contract administration or Employer’s Agent services, contact APCC to discuss your requirements.
