£18m build at heart of Preston starts

CONSTRUCTION has begun on an £18m mixed-use scheme at the heart of Preston city centre.

Manchester-based niche building surveyor Gray Scanlan Hill  concluded its advisory role to Portergate Develpments ahead of the build starting at Friargate.

The company was appointed in 2014 for the city centre site and initially negotiated access rights and dealt with party wall issues as part of the demolition phase in January 2015.

The company has recently unlocked the construction phase works through the resolution of numerous excavation party wall disputes, enabling the commencement of piling operations.

As part of that process, the company assisted in minimising the risk of damage to adjacent neighbouring structures through imposing conditions on the manner and sequence in which the excavations were undertaken.

Piling works started in mid-May and main contractor Eric Wright Construction is now going full steam ahead on a 12-month design and build contract, with completion set for May 2016.

The Friargate Scheme is to include retail premises and 244-bedroom building providing hotel-style accommodation to students at the nearby University of Central Lancashire and is 1.5 acres at the northern end of Friagate in the city centre.

Gray Scanlan Hill worked alongside a design team which has been novated to Eric Wright Construction including architect Leach Rhodes Walker, structural engineer Scott Hughes, and M&E consultant Tace. Faithful and Gould is the employers agent.

Anthony Jackson, chairman of Portergate Developments said: “Gray Scanlan Hill’s party wall advice was invaluable in getting the Friargate scheme to this stage.

“We have a fantastic team working with Eric Wright Construction and had a lot of neighbours to take into consideration and satisfy any concerns they may have had about construction.

“I’m pleased to say that we’re on programme for a spring 2016 completion.”

Mike Scanlan of Gray Scanlan Hill said: “Friargate has been an excellent scheme to work on and typical of the party wall complexities that Gray Scanlan Hill has become known for overcoming during the last ten years.

“Design and build procurement and the statutory timescales associated with the exercise of rights under the Party Wall etc Act 1996 are not the best of bedfellows. We’ve had to be attentive and both proactive and reactive in our input.

“We’ve always enjoyed working with Eric Wright Construction and we’re delighted that we were able to assist in bringing the construction phase of the scheme to a meaningful start on site.”