Category: Construction

The Northampton Market Square Enhancement project for client West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has received a perfect score of 45/45 from the Considerate Contractors Scheme.

The scheme, which has been procured through the Procure Partnerships Framework is located at the heart of the town. Northampton’s Market Square is set to be transformed to better reflect the wonderful, historic public space that it is. As well as the use of high-quality paving and materials, the improved facilities will include a flexible event space, 18 new bespoke fixed stalls, pop up stalls, planting including semi mature trees, tiered seating and an interactive water feature.

On a typical day there are 30 members of the workforce on site and these include five undertaking level 6/7 degrees in construction/commercial, a graduate engineer and placement student.

The assessor commented on the second visit:

The site team have addressed all aspects of the checklist to a very high standard. Overall, this is an excellent site with all three sections, scoring as excellent and a perfect score of 45/45. The overall appearance of the site continues to give a positive and professional impression and the workforce seen during the visit do so as well. The team have an excellent working relationship with key stakeholders and their neighbours and are making a very positive contribution with a well thought out social value plan which the team are tracking their achievements against. There are very good environmental systems in place to protect and enhance the environment. The site offers a very supportive and caring work environment and are committed to supporting those undertaking formal training and development.

I would like to thank the Senior Project Manager, Assistant Site Manager and Senior Administrator for their time on the day. I would like to say a very well done to the site team and the workforce for achieving the score of 45/45.

Key elements of good practice highlighted include:

• A designated safe viewing area allows members of the public to see into the site and the management team, if available will come across and chat to them about the work that is underway and answer any questions they might have.
• The social value plan includes how the site is promoting construction positively. The team have supported Hunsbury Primary School with designing health and safety posters which are displayed on the hoarding with some pupils attending a site visit. The site team have attended six schools to deliver STEM activities for KS1 and 2.
• The site currently have a ‘because we care’ wall offering warm clothes donated by the team and supply chain to the local community.
• A dedicated key relationship manager is assigned for local stakeholder communication, regularly visiting shops, businesses and residents surrounding the site, hand delivering the latest site newsletter, discussing upcoming events on site, any disruption they may experience and answering any questions.
• VCSE ‘Community Wood Recycling’ is in place in respect of the pallets.
• The organisation have recently obtained ISO 50001 and will be using these principals on this project.
• The organisation have developed a sustainability management workbook for the supply chain to use to recognise their own carbon footprint which is reported on using Biosite/Smartwaste.